Shreveport Orchid Society had our fourth annual symposium. We had a very successful meeting including talks by
Mike Mims and Peter Lin. Mike presented a wonderful program called “Stop and Smell the Phals: the art of colorful back
yard breeding”. Peter’s program highlighted miniature Phalaenopsis. Following our catered lunch, we had a lively auction
with plants donated by Louisiana Orchid Connection, Orchid
Konnection, Bigleaf Orchids, Orchids.com, Clown Alley Orchids, Mile Mims, Olie Garrison, and Mitsi Runyan.
World-The Making of a Hybrid”. Using his years of experience
of growing and breeding orchids, Russ shared his expertise
and knowledge with everyone giving us insight to successfully
research and make an orchid hybrid.
Auction time brought lots of action at the end of our meeting.
Generous donations were received from both of our speakers,
George and Russ, as well our host Peach State Orchids, Roy
Harrow and Stones River Orchids. When the dust settled after
the auction, we found that we had raised $885. My thanks to
everyone who supported our auction.
Region 8 and 9 - Hearthland & Lakeland
Next up is our summer meeting at Lines Orchids in Signal
Bill Nelson and Robert Bannister are planning a combined
Mountain, Tennessee schedule for Saturday, June 7, 2014.
region 8 and 9 mini seminar to be held on July 26, 2014, in
Carlos Fighetti will present a superb program on Phalaenopconjunction with the Central Iowa Speakers Day (July 26 and
sis Species in the morning followed by New Phalaenopsis Hy27) in Des Moines, Iowa. Please contact RB Bannister, Iowa
brids from Taiwan 2014 after lunch. Hope you can join us for
Orchids, Inc. and www.phal.org for information.
these two excellent programs.
Region 10 - Eastern Great Lakes - Russ Vernon
We are planning a gathering at New Vision Orchid, Yorktown, Indiana on Saturday, December 6th. More details later
but a discussion of Phalaenopsis culture and an auction of
plants will take place. Please let Russ know if you will be attending so he can send you directions. Another meeting, in
the planning stage, may be held during the Greater Lansing
Orchid Society show usually held on the fourth weekend of
February. Stay tuned for what promises to be an outstanding
event. Good growing to all of you.
Region 11 - Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi & Georgia
- Tom Harper
Thirteen enthusiastic Phalie lovers met at Peach State Orchids in Woodstock, Georgia on Saturday, April 19, 2014. On
our program were two guest speakers presenting PowerPoint
programs, one addressing growing structures and his personal experiences with it, and the other breeding specifics for
Phalaenopsis.
First to present was George Killgore from Smyrna, Tennessee.
His program was entitled “Planning, Building and Maintaining a Home Greenhouse – Part 2”. As you may recall, George
wrote an excellent article for the IPA Journal outlining the
planning and eventual construction of his new greenhouse
for his expanding orchid collection. Now that his project is
completed, and he has some exper