Author Archives: Jay Loeffler

Sarasota County is closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources is in regular communication with the County Health Department and we continue to receive updates related to our operations.

To help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our most vulnerable populations, Sarasota County has decided to cancel ALL programming, reservations, events, leagues, tournaments, drop-ins and use of indoor fitness centers and amenities, regardless of size at the Venice Community Center.

Therefore, the VAOS Monthly Meeting July 1st and our Growers Clinic July 9th are canceled

Next Meeting: Wednesday March 4th at 7:00 p.m.                             Speaker – Dr. Courtney T. Hackney                                                    Location: Venice Community Center (doors open at 6:30pm)           Topic – “Wonderful World of Cattleyas”

Join us for this month’s program as Courtney will be presenting a talk on his favorite genus, “Wonderful World of Cattleyas”. Dr. Hackney is Emeritus Professor of Biology and the former Director of Coastal Biology at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. Previously he was Professor of Biology and Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. He began growing orchids in the Florida Keys in 1962 while working for a small orchid nursery and has continued his interest in both orchid hybridizing and orchid culture since then. He grows many different genera, but his favorite is the Cattleya Alliance. He has about 500 mature cattleyas and even more seedlings, but his favorites are classic clones, some of which appeared in orchid collections over 100 years ago. He makes 8-10 hybrids and species sib crosses per year in various genera.
He wrote a Growing Tips column for 20 years, which ended in December 2013 that appeared in newsletters around the country and has published in Orchid Digest. In 2004, he published “American Cattleyas”, the culmination of a decade of study and interviews, which summarizes in old photographs and print how all of the modern cattleyas came to be. The book also describes what we know about cattleyas and cattleya hybrids, how to grow them, and what to expect from modern hybrids.
He and his wife Rose live in Jacksonville, Florida adjacent to a tidal swamp. Rose paints and he enjoys the Epi. conopseum growing in the trees in his backyard, while he conducts his research in the swamp. His orchids are now enjoying residence in a new 24’x25’ Florida shade house adjacent to the swamp.
Courtney will have plants and their books for sale.
Meeting starts 7:00 – Doors open at 6:30.
Venice Community Center

Next Meeting: Wednesday                                                          
Feb. 5th at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Venice Community Center (doors open at 6:30pm)
Speaker: Vern Bloch
Topic: “What’s Wrong With My Orchid”

Vern Bloch is a retired Navy pilot who first became interested in orchids after leaving the service in 1987. Two years later, Vern, and his wife, Helen, became owners of the Palm Bay Orchid Range and participated in many orchid shows around the state. They sold the nursery in 2004 but continue to do business on a small scale. For the past twenty years, Vern has conducted programs for numerous orchid societies ranging from the Florida Keys to North Carolina.
Vern’s main interest has always been in the cattleya alliance and his presentation will focus on the Epidendrums, Encyclias and Prothecheas genera. Many orchids were originally misclassified as Epidendrums and Vern will show you how to differentiate between them and provide culture tips on how to grow them here in Florida. All are members of the cattleya family and their hybrids, Epicatts, have become very popular in recent years. They are easy to grow in Florida, providing us with a wide range of colors and shapes.
Vern will be happy to answer questions and will have an assortment of fine species Orchids for sale.