Meeting Wednesday, November 4, 2015 – 7:00 pm

Speaker:John F. Salventi, Ph. D.

 

JFS headshot HRPrior to involvement in the orchid industry John Salventi was a health-care professional with more than 20 years of hospital management experience including 17 years at the Lehigh Valley Hospital. John and Tom Purviance opened Parkside Orchid Nursery in 1992.

Parkside grew to be one of the largest multi-genera orchid nurseries in the northeastern United States with five greenhouses, spanning over 14,000 square feet of growing space. After 20 years of operating Parkside, it was sold in June.

During the 20 years that they operated Parkside, both John and Tom traveled extensively to maintain an interesting inventory for the serious hobbyist and secured plants directly from the growers. These include frequent trips to South America, Central America, Hawaii and Asia. John continues to travel to South America leading Eco-Tours in Peru and Ecuador. In Peru these trips have included The Manu Cloud Forest, the Wayqechas Biological Research Center, Cusco, and Machu Picchu. He has traveled extensively in Ecuador on several occasions and to Costa Rica twice, once traveling to the rain and cloud forests. John served on the conservation committee of the American Orchid Society and the president’s advisory council for the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research.

 He has spoken both nationally and internationally at Orchid Societies and Symposia on orchid and conservation topics. John continues to speak and lead workshops, on a variety of orchid topics.

See www.everythingaboutorchids.com

John is scheduled to speak on plant nutrition

Location: Venice Community Center -(doors open at 6:30)

Meeting Wednesday, October 7, 2015 – 7:00 pm

Speaker: Ron Midgett of New Earth Orchids, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Topic: “Green With Envy: Green Cattleyas—Origins”

Ron Midgett began growing orchids in 1969 in the orchid-rich environment of Southern California. Since then, he has grown orchids in many different regions of the US and in the Caribbean for 3 years. Currently, he resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a breeder with an emphasis on Cattleyas, Paphiopedilums, and Oncidinae. Several cultivars fromOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA his crosses have received AOS awards.

In 1990, Ron founded the New England Orchid Company in Franklin, MA. In 2003, he moved his orchid business to New Jersey and changed the name to New Earth Orchid Co., aka New Earth Orchids. In 2010, New Earth Orchids was moved to Santa Fe, NM.

Ron is an accredited AOS judge currently serving in the Rocky Mountain Region. He has served as chairperson for AOS judging for the 2011 and 2012 New Mexico Orchid Guild Shows. In 2011, Ron was invited to participate in judging the Taiwan International Orchid Show.

Ron has authored articles published in Orchids and most recently in the Orchid Digest. He was given the prestigious Ernest Heatherington award from the Orchid Digest for his article, “Beyond Sc. Beaufort—A 20 Year Odyssey in Cattleya Breeding”. Ron feels a special honor in receiving this award because Ernest was one of his first mentors.

Ron is happy to bring plants to sell and accepts preorders. A 10% discount is given for preorders. Plants for meeting raffles are available. Use this URL to connect to his online store: http://newearthorchids.com

Location: Venice Community Center -(doors open at 6:30)

Meeting Wednesday, September 2, 2015 – 7:00 pm

Speaker: Jim Roberts of Florida Suncoast Orchids

Topic: “Flasking” – Orchids grown from seed

One of our most popular presenters, Jim Roberts, will be returning for his third presenta­tion. He will be discussing and demonstrating techniques for the art of growing orchids from seed, a method known as “Flasking” that takes time and patience!

Jim will be bringing some flasks of high quality Cattleya and Encyclia hybrids that contain about 20 – 25 young plants per flask. Some of the flasks that will be for sale are from awarded orchids and start at $100. The general hybrid flasks will start at $35. Perfect for splitting with an orchid ‘growing pal’!

SpkrJimRobertsSuncoastOrchidsJim is the owner of Florida Suncoast Orchids, located near Myakka City where he grows Phalaenopsis, Dend­robium, Vanda and his specialties: Cattleya and Encyclia hybrids.

He has three joined greenhouses covering 10,000 square feet. The greenhouses are open by appointment only. Jim exhibits at numerous shows, gives club presen­tations and you can also find his plants at local markets or order them online.

Jim will bring a great selection of orchids grown in this area to sell at the meeting. You can check out his website, www.floridasuncoastorchids.com, for informa­tion, beautiful photos and growing tips. The website is currently under construction, so ordering online isn’t available.

We hope to see you there, supporting one of our few remaining local growers!

Location: Venice Community Center -(doors open at 6:30)