Author Archives: Jay Loeffler

October 5th 7:00pm

Location: Venice Community Center

The Speaker will be Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids.

Presenting: Aussie Dendrobiums

Fred has been growing orchids for 42 years and has been hybridizing for 38 of those years. With over 34 years as a professional grower and manager in the horticultural industry, Fred applies these skills at his orchid nursery; Sunset Valley Orchids, located in San Diego, California.

He is a passionate orchid grower whose curiosity in orchids is broad and varied. Although developing Cattleya hybrids has been his sustaining interest, he is also actively creating new Paphiopedilum and Aussie Dendrobium hybrids plus some others to be named if they work out!

His pioneering work in Catasetum intergeneric hybrids led to the development of several notable hybrids, most recently the grex, Fredclarkeara After Dark, which produced “the blackest flower ever witnessed”. This grex has received over 100 awards worldwide with nine FCC’s and thirty AM’s from the AOS judges!

Fred is an Accredited Judge in the Pacific South Judging Region. His plants have received hundreds of quality awards from the American Orchid Society.

Wednesday, Sept.7th, 2022 7:00pm. Doors opens at 6:30.           

The Speaker will be Alan Koch

Location: Venice Community Center

Presentation – The Genus Paphiopedilum

Alan Koch owns and operates Gold Country Orchids where he specializes in  miniature and compact Cattleya’s. Alan started growing orchids in 1969 with 3 Cymbidiums given to him by an aunt. While in college, he became interested in other orchids and discovered many would grow outdoors in Southern California.

He has moved five times as his orchid obsession has led to the need for more growing space. With the last move, he purchased 10 acres of land in Lincoln, California for his 300,000 orchids.

He is recognized as an expert in the Brazilian Cattleya alliance and a trend setter in miniature Cattleya breeding. Alan has been published in the Orchid Digest, and the American Orchid Society magazines. He has also been published in the proceedings of the World Orchid Conference. He is an internationally known speaker.

He is a past member of the AOS Judging Committee, and the Research Committee, as well as an Accredited Judge and is Vice-chair and Training Coordinator for the California Sierra Nevada Judging Center.

Alan also served two terms on the Orchid Digest Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and is one of the current directors, as well as a Trustee for the AOS.

Location: Venice Community Center

(Doors open at 6:30pm)

The Speaker will be Carlos Cahiz

Presenting: Introduction to Orchid Care

Carlos A. Cahiz is the oldest son of Carlos and Teresa Cahiz. Born in Valencia, Venezuela in 1964, he graduated from the University of Kansas in 1989.  Carlos joined the family business, OFE International Orchids & Supplies in 1990, and has been with the company ever since. One of his first tests as manager was to deal with the devastation left behind from hurricane Andrew.

OFE is now located in the Redland area of Homestead. We have expanded our product line. We now not only sell orchid supplies, but also orchids and a selection of tropical plants.

Most weeks, there is something new happening at OFE. Since last October 2020, we have been hosting monthly ‘OFE’s Sale Fairs,’ featuring from 10 to 16 different orchid, tropical and other gardening vendors in our property. These informal gatherings are free of charge to visitors.  We have everybody set up outdoors and their sales booths are well separated from each other. The response from our community at our events has been great.

I hope to see some of you in our next fair. For more information on our events, look us up in Facebook (OFE Orchids & Supplies) or Instagram under @ofeorchidsupplies.

Carlos has been more involved with our local orchid community. He is a past President of the South Florida Orchid Society.

Carlos lives at his West Kendall/Miami home with his wife Amanda and their son. They all share their home with various adopted dogs, birds, turtles, orchids and other tropical plants.  His growing approach can be distilled into these two ideas: Tender neglect. And, listen to your plants.

Most days, you will find him, and his brother Chris, at OFE’s location, 17899 SW. 280th Street, Homestead FL 33031. OFE’s website is www.ofeintl.com. Contact them at 305-253-7080 or via e-mail: ofeorchidsupplies@gmail.com. Or via Facebook (OFE Orchids & Supplies) and Instagram @ofeorchidsupplies.