Meeting Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 7:00

Speaker: Bill Thoms

Topic: Orchid Collecting in the Phillipines

Bill Thoms photo edit

Bill Thoms, renowned orchid grower,  internationally recognized speaker and world traveler, will be discussing his experiences collecting orchids in the Phillipines.

Bill and his wife, Doris Dukes, have been growing orchids in Central Florida for more than 40 years and have received almost every award granted by the AOS. They received more Awards for Culture than anyone else in the world, (93 in over 29 genera, including 42 in the bulbophyllum alliance), capped off with a 97 point  Certificate of Cultural Excellence for Bulb. Sue Blackmore.

Bill has collected orchids in various parts of the world and has spoken throughout the United States and internationally on a wide range of orchid topics. His presentations are spiced with funny stories and great slides so whether you grow thousands of orchids, only a few, or none at all, you will have a wonderfully entertaining time and benefit from Bill’s long experience.He makes many of the most important requirements for growing world class plants easy to understand and remember.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn how to grow these fascinating plants and to hear one of the most knowledgeable, interesting and funny speakers in the orchid world. Bill will have plants from his collection, supplies, and other orchid related items for sale.

Event Calendar

VAOS EVENTS CALENDAR

March 22- Saturday.  VAOS Picnic 12-4PM, Caspersen Beach

April 2, 2014. Monthly Meeting. 7:00 at the Venice Community Center.  Rafael Romero, “Orchid Tales.”

April 10, 2014.  Hands-on Potting Clinic. 7:00 Community Center.  Bring 1 plant you wish to repot, a suitable pot and we will supply material and expertise to help you.

April 26, 2014 Greenhouse Tour, 9 to 2 pm.  details in the April newsletter.

May 7, 2014. Monthly Meeting.

May 17, 2014.  Redlands International Orchid Festival – Bus Trip.  Details  in the April Newsletter.

Ongoing:

Mentor Program: help for beginning growers, contact Peg Fahrenback, rsec@vaos.org.

AOS Orchid Judging takes place at Christ the King Catholic Church, McLoughlin Center – Room C, 821 S. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, FL 33609 at 6:30pm on the fourth Wednesday of every month (in April 2014 Judging is on the  29 at ). Info:  http://www.fncjc.shutterfly.com/

 

 

Meeting July 8, 2013

C. Green Emerald

Joint meeting with the Englewood Area Orchid Society at the Christ Lutheran Church, 701 N. Indiana Ave., Englewood. Monday July 8th at 6:30 p.m.

Speaker: Paul Phelps

Topic: “Cattleya, Queen of Orchids”

Paul Phelps and his wife, Patricia, are the owners of Phelps Farm Orchids, Inc., a commercial orchid farm located on five acres in northwest Hillsborough County. Patricia’s love of orchids turned their hobby into a business in 1986 and their original 3500 sq. ft. greenhouse has doubled in size. A new 1600 sq. ft. greenhouse was recently added for their mounted plants.
 
Cattleyas are their specialty but you will find Bulbophyllum, Coelogyne, Dendrobium, Oncidium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, Phalaenopsis and Vandaceous Orchids, as well as assorted species and hybrids of other genera. 

They began a breeding program in the late 80’s, with the main focus on the Cattleya alliance and Paul has developed more than 800 hybrids. Paul is a well-known speaker at local and regional orchid societies and Phelps Farm Orchids have been featured on NBC’s Daytime Show and the PBS series, America’s Heartland. Phelps Farm Orchids is open by appointment only Monday through Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-12. Please call (813) 961-8427 for your appointment and visit their online catalog at www.phelpsfarm.com.
 
Paul’s motto has always been “Quality Plants at Reasonable Prices” and he will have a selection of his finest plants for sale.