Category Archives: Meetings

We enjoyed hosting a presentation by Nature’s Relics for our joint meeting with the Englewood Area Orchid Society on August 5^th.

Over the past six years Jesse and Dee Vance have turned their passion for reclaiming old growth Bald Cypress into Nature’s Relics.

Until the late 1800’s much of the lowland area of the Gulf Coast was covered by old growth Bald Cypress forests. It’s the remnants of these forests that become the palette for Nature’s Relics.

The Vance’s uncover the natural beauty of this old, water worn wood, already sculpted over time by nature, providing us with one of a kind orchid mounts and display pieces.

From their orchid growing experience they discovered these Bald Cypress mounts retain moisture longer than other wood mounts. They recommend mounting orchids directly on the wood without Sphagnum moss.

If you’d like to to purchase a Bald Cypress mount, the Vance’s will be back this October at Tropiflora’s Fall Show.

LOCATION: Christ Lutheran Church, Englewood

Speaker: Rafael Romero

Rafael RomeroRafael Romero, Plantio La Orquidea, was born in Caracas, Venezuela and graduated as a biologist from the Universidad Simon Bolivar. He began working with orchids in 1986 with his father in law, Henrique Graf, owner of Plantio La Orquidea, the largest orchid nursery in Venezuela.

Together with his wife, Rafael started the laboratory at Plantio La Orquidea in 1986 where they produce the species and hybrids for which they are known. They moved to Sarasota in 2003 and started their nursery, approximately 10000 sq. ft., where they established a good sample of the species and hybrids produced in Venezuela as well as adding interesting species and hybrids from around the world.

Rafael will be sharing his knowledge and experiences as well as answering questions and will have a fine selection of his orchids available for sale. Plantio La Orquidea is one of our fine local growers and is located at 3480 Tallevast Road in Sarasota.

Speaker: Vern Bloch

Topic: Encyclias and Epidendrums

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 Epidendrum, Encyclia and Prothechea genera. Many orchids were originally classified 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, Epicats, 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 and some Epicats for sale.

Meeting starts 7:00 – Doors open at 6:30.

Venice Community Center.