Meetings – Page 10 – Venice Area Orchid Society

Meeting Feb. 4, 2015, Venice Community Center – 7:00 pm

Posted on 01/25/2015 by tmkellogg2010

Why Orchids Have so Many Species?

Speaker: Dr. David Benzing

Dr. David Benzing has a Ph.D. in botany and was a professor at Oberlin College for more than 40 years. He spends his winters in Sarasota and is the Jessie B.Cox Chair of Tropical Biology at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and has written a number of books about epiphytes and tropical plants. He practices what he preaches and has been an avid orchid hybridizer and grower for a number of years. He’s a wine grower and co-owner of Vermilion Valley Vineyards (sorry, no samples) and will share his love of orchids and epiphytes.
He’ll be speaking about the many factors that play a role in determining why orchids have so many distinct species, and will be happy to take questions from the audience.
He’ll lead us through the fascinating evolution of orchids and will have copies of his books for sale and Jeff Higel, Honey Bee Nursery, will have orchids for sale.

Meeting January 7, 2015

Posted on 12/21/2014 by tmkellogg2010

Next Meeting: Wednesday January 7th at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Venice Community Center

Speaker: Roy Krueger

Topic: Show Preparation

Roy moved down here about twelve years ago, bought a house, and inherited three orchids from the previous owner. He soon discovered that orchids multiply faster than rab- bits and he now has over 500, with his favorites being Cat- tleyas and unusual Dendrobiums. Roy grows his orchids in a pool cage, on trees, under arbors, on wind chime holder racks and along his fence out of the reach of squirrels.

He’s neither a born orchidist nor a commercial grower, just an extremely talented hobbyist and his experience and knowledge are displayed at the many classes he teaches at various societies. He served five years as the President of the Manatee Orchid Society and four years in various po- sitions with the Sarasota Orchid Society, writing a monthly article called “Orchids We Should Grow”.

Roy has spoken at many clubs and societies over the years on many orchid topics and is well known for his how-to classes and hands-on approach. Bring your questions and be prepared to learn and have a great time at the January meeting.

Meeting Wednesday, November 5, 2014. Venice Community Center 7:00pm

Posted on 10/22/2014 by tmkellogg2010

Topic: Florida Native Orchids

Speaker: Prem Subrahmanyam

Prem is a true Florida native, having been born and raised in the Tallahassee, Florida area, before moving to Orlando with his family in 2005. He’s been studying Florida’s native orchids for more than 30 years and is renowned for his presentations at native plant and orchid societies across the state.

Enc.tampensis He makes his living as a software engineer and is also a graphic designer and 3d computer animator. His free time is spent photographing native orchids, growing his own collection of (legally purchased) orchids, developing his orchid-related websites, and collecting fossils or geocaching.

Prem is an award-winning photographer and his works have appeared in various magazine publications, textbooks, educational displays, orchid society newsletters, and brochures. In October 2009, his article on Epidendrum magnoliae was published in Orchids – the Bulletin of the American Orchid Society. His photos were also used in the Illustrated Dictionary of Orchid Genera, Jay Pfahl’s Orchidspecies.com website as well as in PBS website content for their Nova series.

Prem will dazzle and inspire us with his beautiful photographs and hopefully share a few of his discoveries, although the exact locations usually remain a deep secret. Some of his earliest finds were located less than 15 minutes from his home. If we’re fortunate, Prem will bring some of his photographs and other orchid-related items for sale.