Category Archives: Meetings

Michael Polen is the owner of Art Stone Orchids in St. Petersburg, a premier supplier of orchids and potting supplies since 1986. He has twice been past president of the West Coast Orchid Society and continues to participate in numerous orchid shows, including numerous appearances at our Venice Show.
Art Stone Orchids/Palmer Orchids won both the AOS Show Trophy for the Most Outstanding Exhibit and the VAOS Most Outstanding Exhibit Class I Trophy as well as the Best in Show Trophy at our February show.
Michael will have supplies, mounts and orchids for sale and will be glad to answer any questions.

Speaker: Hal Hills  – “Orchid Fragrances”

Harold G. Hills, better known as Hal Hills, received his PhD degree from the University of Miami and has published numerous articles on orchid fragrances and fragrance cycles as well as a taxonomic revision of the genus Dressleria, naming eight of the twelve species in the genus.

Hal will be discussing orchid fragrances, not fragrant orchids, focusing on fragrance collection and analysis, fragrance production, and how fragrances change over the life of the inflorescence. He will also include the effect of changing light on orchid fragrances.

Hal’s presentation is somewhat technical but includes many beautiful photos, particularly of Catasetum, Clowesia and Dressleria. A question and answer period will follow.

Topic: How Plants Are Judged

I was born in Florida but have lived all over–Texas, New York, Alaska, Virginia, Colorado, etc.  My husband, Bill, and I have been orchid hunting in Equador, Brazil, Jamaica, Venezuela, Thailand and Belize.  Together, we have over 96 AOS cultural awards in every major genus and we lost count of the AOS quality awards we have received.  I have won the Riopelle award in 1996 and 2000 for the best miltoniopsis.  I’ve won the AOS Gold Medal for a 100 sq. ft. exhibit as well as the AOS Show Trophy for a tabletop exhibit.  I’ve been an AOS judge for 25 years and served as the Florida North Central Vice-chair for 3 years and the Chair for 4 years.  My most exciting moment was receiving an FCC on a Paphiopedilum Booth’s Sand Lady and while I grow all kinds of orchids, paphs are my first love.

Regards, Doris

Doris will have plants for sale at the meeting. She may be contacted at dukesthoms@verizon.net