The Orchid Society of Great Britain Blog

OSGB, Oman and orchids - celebrating 100 years of Chelsea

2013-05-17T11:50:00.001-07:00

From suffragettes and corsages to near extinction and cloning, the Orchid Society of Great Britain’s educational floral exhibit, sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism, will explore the changes in orchid growing over the past one hundred years to celebrate the centenary of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The OSGB's 2013 Chelsea begins to take shape

History
1913 – Suffragettes attacked the orchid houses at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in protest at the male dominated world of horticulture.

2013 – Two female members of the Orchid Society of Great Britain will design its exhibit for the flagship show of the RHS, a society which has a female president.

Designers
Val Micklewright – Hon. Sec. of the society, designer of many displays at other shows since joining in 1991, and Sam Hurley – editor of the society’s quarterly OSGB Journal, who joined in 2009.

Unique plant supply
Unlike other exhibitors, the society’s designers can only plan so far – they do not know which plants their members will be able to lend until a few days before the show opens. Most of the plants exhibited are grown by members, friends and affiliates of the society and each year they demonstrate their expertise by providing exceptional plants for the exhibit. This is the 53rd time, since its founding in 1951, that the society has exhibited at the RHS Chelsea Flower show.

Masdevallia veitchiana

Competition

The society holds a competition each year to find the most popular orchid

on its display; a cup is presented to the owner of the winning plant.

A regular winner has been Masdevallia veitchiana, favourite orchid of
Sir Harry Veitch, the great nurseryman and orchid enthusiast who was one
of the founding fathers of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

All visitors entering the competition will have their names put into a free prize
draw to win £100 worth of orchids to celebrate 100 years of Chelsea ( to be
drawn on 1st June 2013).

Sponsorship
The society is delighted to welcome sponsorship from the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism. Oman’s diverse landscape includes 3,165 kilometresof pristine, sandy Indian ocean beaches, magnificent desert expanses, majestic fjords in Musandam in the far north, the striking Hajar Mountains, and the lush green valleys of Dhofar, in the south.

Medicinal orchids

Eulophia guineensis

A number of orchids are native to Oman, including Epipactis, Eulophia, Habenaria and Nervilia. Eulophia guineensis and Eulophia petersii are both used medicinally.

Eulophia guineensis grows in the tropical highlands in southern Oman,
and has attractive pink and white flowers with the extravagant ‘lip’, which
is characteristic of most orchids.

A new Botanic Garden is being created near Muscat, Oman’s capital,
and will endeavour to display the entire flora of the Sultanate, including
its native orchids.

Orchids – rare, exotic and hard to grow?
Over 25,000 species– not all are rare
95% native to the Tropics – most are certainly exotic
Easy to grow – many modern hybrids are much easier to grow

Changes in orchid growing
Different orchids have risen and fallen in popularity over the past century. Cool-growing orchids such as Cymbidium, which once thrived in our houses, before central heating and double glazing arrived, have given way to warm-growing Phalaenopsis which used to be considered impossible to grow.

Orchid growing often reflects the changing fashions and trends within society. Flamboyant orchid corsages, the de rigeur accessory of days gone by, have been replaced by easy-to-grow modern hybrids which adorn our homes and offices today.

Hinckley & District Orchid Society Annual Show report by Keith Bates

2013-05-13T00:31:00.000-07:00

On one of the worst days of the winter the society staged its annual show in Hinckley . Although three societies were snowed in, we were treated to a colourful show at the end of March.

The North of England Orchid Society and East Midlands Orchid Society provided us with spectacular displays of orchids at their very best, closely followed by smaller displays from the Lincolnshire Orchid Group and Solihull & District Orchid Society.

Our own display was in the form of a ruined temple in the jungle with over 80 plants displayed among the stone of the temple and a dried up stream bed among fern and tropical plants supplied by a local garden centre. The best plant on our display was grown by our oldest member, George Cope. His Rhynchostylis gigantea was a superb plant with two large spikes.

Hinckley & District Orchid Society's display at their annual show
(Photo by Keith Bates)

Publicity for OSGB in The Independent

2013-05-11T00:54:00.001-07:00

The RHS London Orchid Show received an enthusiastic write-up in last Sunday's Independent magazine.

To view the article and an excellent photograph of camera-shy OSGB stand designer André Roux visit:

http://www.independent.co.uk/property/gardening/orchid-fever-enter-the-exotic-world-of-britains-favourite-pot-plantsand-their-owners-8599857.html

2013 Photographic and Art Competition - Saturday 1st June

2013-05-04T11:33:00.003-07:00

This competition will be held on Saturday 1st June 2013 in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting at Napier Hall. The revised schedule of rules and classes below will apply.

Doors will open at 12:30; all entries must be registered on arrival and should be in place by 13:30. Members are asked to label the reverse of their entries with their name, and the name of the plant (if known).

Please read the revised schedule which can be found on the About Us page of the website.

Raby Castle Orchid Show 4th - 6th May 2013

2013-05-04T11:28:00.001-07:00

Visit the Raby Castle Orchid Show over the Bank Holiday weekend to see beautiful orchid exhibits by various societies, including the OSGB. There will be a wide selection of orchids for sale from a variety of international traders.

Members and visitors alike will be given a warm welcome at the OSGB exhibit by Kim Solomon, our Advertising Secretary, who is representing the Society and has created this elegant display.

OSGB display at Raby Castle Orchid Show

Kim Solomon, Chris Barker, Rachel, Dick Warren and Lord Barnard, owner of Raby Castle

Raby Castle Orchid Show, Staindrop, Darlington, Co. Durham, DL2 3AH, open 11:00-17:00

Sponsorship from the Sultanate of Oman for Chelsea

2013-05-01T07:25:00.001-07:00

Eulophia guineensis grows in the
mountain forests of Oman

The Society is delighted to welcome sponsorship from the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism for this year's Chelsea exhibit. A beautiful and exotic country, Oman has much to offer those wishing to explore its native flora and fauna, along with a wide variety of diverse experiences for its visitors.

A number of orchids are native to Oman, including Eulophia guineensis, Eulophia petersii, Habenaria myodes and Habenaria malacophylla.

For thousands of years orchids have captivated mankind with their exotic beauty but they have also been believed to have medicinal, almost magical, properties. Eulophia guineensis and Eulophia petersii are both used medicinally. The pseudobulbs are broken off at the base and this broken end is heated in a fire until blackened and the sap starts to flow. This sap is rubbed over skin complaints and sores, eczema, fungal infections etc.

Habenaria myodes and Habenaria malacophylla have edible tubers and were eaten raw or, preferably, slowly cooked. They were regarded as being ‘hunger food’ for hard times only, as they
cause inflammation and irritation.

A new Botanic Garden is being created near Muscat, Oman’s capital, and will endeavour to display the entire flora of the Sultanate, including
native orchids such as Eulophia guineensis. This orchid has attractive
pink and white flowers with the extravagant ‘lip’, or modified petal,
which is characteristic of most orchids.

For further information about tourism in the Sultanate of Oman,
please visit: www.omantourism.gov.om

Westonbirt Medal presented to David Martin

2013-04-18T02:22:00.002-07:00

David Martin was presented with the 2012 Westonbirt Medal by the RHS during the London Orchid Show. This is awarded for the best specimen plant shown to the RHS Orchid Committee during the year and was given to his Cymbidium Sweet Devon 'Sweet' (suave x devonianum) CCC/RHS. The plant was awarded a Certificate of Cultural Commendation at the time; it measured an impressive one metre in diameter and displayed nineteen pendent flower spikes.

Cymbidium Sweet Devon 'Sweet' CCC/RHS

Mr and Mrs David Martin
Photo by Johan Hermans

Gold medal at the London Orchid Show

2013-04-12T01:19:00.000-07:00

The OSGB has won a Gold Medal at the 2013 RHS London Orchid Show.

André Roux and his team's creation represented a waterfall cascading down a steep cliff-face covered in colourful orchid species and hybrids, leading into a river which meandered amongst groups of beautiful blooms towards a mossy island.

Build in under two days, the display consisted of a wonderful selection of members plants. Many thanks to all those who lent plants, helped to organise and build the display and staff the information table at the show.

Visit the London Orchid and Botanical Art show at the RHS Halls, 12-13 April, 10am-5pm, admission: RHS members £5.00, non-members £8.00, website: www.rhs.org.uk/londonshows

New trophy to be awarded at Spring Show at RHS Garden Wisley - 16 March

2013-03-01T07:21:00.003-08:00

The Spring Show will take place in the Glasshouse Gallery at RHS Garden Wisley on Saturday 16 March, 10:30-16:00, in conjunction with the month-long Wisley Orchid Event which opens that day.

All are welcome and 55 free entry tickets to the Garden will be available to OSGB members (on presentation of their membership card) at the front entrance on a first come, first served basis (9am-12pm), through the Society's affiliation with the RHS.

The newly donated Solomon Trophy will be awarded for the first time for the best windowsill-grown plant.

Plants for judging brought to the Glasshouse Gallery between 08:00 and 08:45. Members wishing to enter their plants should send a list of the plants and the classes they wish to enter to Dusha Hayes, Chair of the Judging Subcommittee, by post or e-mail a few days before the show. This will help with advance preparation of show tables. Alterations and new entries will still be accepted on the day.

All plants being brought for the show will be inspected to check that they are healthy and clear of pests; suspect plants may be denied entry. Please ensure you allow enough time for this.

Directions to the Glasshouse Gallery can be found on page 18 of the Annual Supplement to the Journal. For the main entrance, follow the brown signs to RHS Garden Wisley.

Full details of the show's schedule can be found on page 10 of the Annual Supplement. The following schedule will be used for the 2013 Spring Show, which is open to non-members:

Any plant entered in classes 1 to 48 must have been in the entrants’ possession for at least 12 months.

Section A
Plants in Classes 1–24 may be judged within Class 50 on request to the judges.

1. 1 Laeliinae species eg Barkeria, Brassavola, Cattleya, Encyclia, Epidendrum, Guarianthe, Mexican Laelia, etc.
2. 1 Laeliinae hybrid, including intergenerics.
3. 1 Cymbidium species.
4. 1 Cymbidium hybrid.
5. 1 Dendrobium species.
6. 1 Dendrobium hybrid.
7. 1 Oncidiinae species eg Ada, Brassia, Miltonia, Oncidium, etc.
8. 1 Oncidiinae hybrid, including intergenerics.
9. 1 Paphiopedilum species.
10. 1 Paphiopedilum hybrid.
11. 1 Phragmipedium species.
12. 1 Phragmipedium hybrid.
13. 1 Phalaenopsis species, including plants previously known as Doritis.
14. 1 Phalaenopsis hybrid, including intergenerics.
15. 1 Vandeae species, including Sarcanthinae, Angraecinae, Aerangidinae but excluding Phalaenopsis.
16. 1 Vandeae hybrid, including intergenerics but not those with Phalaenopsis.
17. 1 Pleurothallidinae species.
18. 1 Pleurothallidinae hybrid, including intergenerics.
19. 1 Maxillarieae species.
20. 1 Maxillarieae hybrid, including intergenerics.
21. 1 terrestrial species or hybrid (those orchids that have underground rhizomes or tubers and seasonally have no parts above ground) eg Cynorkis, Cypripedium, Dactylorhiza, some Calanthe, Disa, Habenaria, Ophrys, etc.
22. 1 species not listed above eg Catasetum, Gongora, Coelogyne, Stanhopea, etc.
23. 1 hybrid not listed above eg Catasetum, Gongora, Coelogyne, Stanhopea, etc.
24. 1 species or hybrid to be judged for its decorative foliage only.
25. 3 Laeliinae species.
26. 3 Laeliinae hybrids, including intergenerics.
27. 3 Cymbidium species.
28. 3 Cymbidium hybrids.
29. 3 Oncidiinae species.
30. 3 Oncidiinae hybrids, including intergenerics.
31. 3 Paphiopedilum species and/or hybrids.
32. 3 Phragmipedium species and/or hybrids.
33. 3 Phalaenopsis species.
34. 3 Phalaenopsis hybrids, including intergenerics.
35. 3 terrestrial species and/or hybrids.
36. 3 Pleurothallidinae species and/or hybrids.
37. 3 Dendrobium species and/or hybrids.
38. 3 species of one genus, not listed in classes 25 to 37 eg Maxillaria, Lycaste, Coelogyne, Catasetum, Gongora, Stanhopea, etc.
39. 3 hybrids of one genus, from the genera in class 38, including intergenerics containing that genus.
40. 3 orchid plants from any of the genera in class 38, including intergenerics.
41. 4 orchid species from the same or different genera.
42. 4 orchid plants from different genera, including intergenerics.
43. 6 orchid species from the same or different genera.
44. 6 orchid species and hybrids from the same or different genera, including intergenerics.
45. 6 orchid plants of any one genus, including intergenerics containing that genus; no foliage plants to be included.
46. A group of orchids and ornamental plants space up to one square metre. Ornamental plants must not exceed 50% of the exhibit.
47. 1 species or hybrid, for an OSGB member who has not previously gained a first prize in the Society’s Spring or Autumn Shows.
48. 1 orchid species or hybrid for an OSGB member aged 21 and under.
49. 1 corsage or buttonhole (flower need not have been grown by the exhibitor).

Section B
Open class for all societies, individuals and professional growers at the Spring and Autumn Shows, including non-members of the OSGB and its Affiliated Societies.

50. A display of orchids and ornamental plants, larger than one square metre, ornamental plants must not exceed 50% of the exhibit.

Trophies to be awarded at the Spring ShowDolores Rands Trophy - 1 Laeliinae species, hybrid or intergeneric -Classes 1 and 2
Dulcie Rands Trophy - 1 Paphiopedilum species or hybrid - Classes 9, 10 and 31
Nanyang Trophy - 1 Vandeae species or hybrid - Classes 15 and 16
Joe Alderton Trophy - 3 Laeliinae species, hybrids and intergenerics - Classes 25 and 26
Woodstock Trophy - 3 Phalaenopsis species, hybrids and intergenerics - Classes 33 and 34
Dixon Trophy - 3 species of the same genus as in Class 38
BOC Trophy - 3 hybrids of one genus as in Class 39
Lampard Trophy - species from the same or different genera - Class 43
Alcock Cup - 6 mixed species, hybrids and intergenerics from different genera - Class 44
Rittershausen Challenge Trophy - 6 orchid plants - Class 45
Myers Trophy - 1 orchid species or hybrid, for first-time First prize winner in the Spring Show - Class 47
RHS Banksian Medal - To the member gaining the most First, Second and Third prizes
Sussex Shield - Three or more First prizes
Ann Shelley-Lloyd Painting - Best Cymbidium species
Sir Jeremiah Colman Bowl - Best Phalaenopsis
Leonard Page Cup - Best Oncidiinae
Pat Akehurst Trophy - Best Pleurothallidinae
Penney Trophy - Best Dendrobium
Peppe de Lullo Trophy - Best Coelogyne
Robert Elliott Cup - Best Cattleya species
Solomon Trophy - Best windowsill-grown orchid
BETOC Spring Show Cup - Hybrid made 50 or more years ago
Dorothy Pestell Cup - Best in Show

Successful trip to Ecuador and Peru

2013-01-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

Fourteen members of the Society enjoyed a two week trip to South America in November 2012. It included a brief visit to Peru to see Machu Picchu (where the guide had to halt her tour because members were too busy photographing orchids) before proceeding to southern Ecuador.

The tour was arranged by Sally Mill through Ecuagenera and superbly guided by Alex Portilla (a member of the Ecuagenera family). Members were able to see a wide range of orchids in their natural habitat including Cattleya, Epidendrum, Oncidium and pleurothallids.

Cattleya maxima

An article about the trip should be published in the next issue of the Journal.

OSGB visit to Burnham Nurseries on 9 March 2013

2013-01-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

The OSGB did not escape the terrible weather last autumn and unfortunately the visit to Burnham Nurseries in Newton Abbot, Devon on 24 November 2012 had to be cancelled (the railway line was washed away). However, the visit has been rescheduled for Saturday 9 March by kind invitation of Sara Rittershausen who has offered to provide lunch in Burnham’s excellent coffee shop as well as entry to their beautiful display house, Orchid Paradise, free for OSGB visitors.

Members around the country will need to make their own arrangements/bookings for travel to the nursery. However, a group will be travelling from London Paddington to Newton Abbot station and members may join this group if they wish. Taxi/minibus transfer between Newton Abbot station and Burnham Nurseries (2 miles) will be paid for/refunded by the OSGB.
Please note: it is much cheaper to buy two singles than a return ticket www.thetrainline.com

Dep: 09:06 London Paddington Arr: 11:38 Newton Abbot (£17.50)

Dep: 16:41 Newton Abbot Arr: 19:22 London Paddington (£22.00)

Prices correct at time of going to press, for single tickets bought in advance without a railcard. Tickets are much more expensive if not bought well in advance.

Members must contact Francis Quesada-Pallares by 1 March to confirm their place for lunch and/or transport to/from Newton Abbott station, tel: 07951 070637, e-mail: ols_francisjquesadapallares@hotmail.com

If you have not received an e-mail confirmation from Francis within a few days please telephone him to confirm.

OSGB plant auction on Saturday 5 January 2013

2013-01-03T05:31:00.003-08:00

The OSGB's annual auction will be held at Napier Hall on Saturday 5 January 2013. Doors open at 1.30pm, auction at 2.30pm.

A wide variety of plants will be on sale, from easy-to-grow hybrids to more unusual species, and are usually sold for extremely reasonable prices. A selection of books and orchid prints will also be auctioned.

As usual, all members will receive a warm welcome and tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.
Members are invited to bring along plants to sell (four plants per individual member, six plants per family membership).

MBE for Simon Pugh-Jones, founder of the Writhlington School Orchid Project

2013-01-03T05:24:00.003-08:00

Simon Pugh-Jones MBE
with Laelia anceps at Writhlington
(Photo by Joel Bates)

Simon Pugh-Jones received an MBE in the New Year's Honours list for his services to education and the orchid project.

The Writhlington School Orchid Project (WSOP) developed from an after-school gardening club founded by Simon 20 years ago. The WSOP has gone from strength to strength over the years led by Simon's infectious enthusiasm and students are now involved with orchid-related projects around the world, enjoying trips to countries such as Sikkim and Rwanda.

The project recently hosted the hugely successful 25th British Orchid Council Congress at Writhlington School in October 2012.

Simon says “This is recognition for my fantastic team of students at Writhlington who have achieved so much over the last twenty years and for all those who have supported our work both in the UK and abroad.”

Our congratulations to Simon and everyone involved with the project.

New venue for Peterborough International Orchid Show

2013-01-03T05:09:00.001-08:00

Thanks to the enthusiasm of its committee, the International Orchid Show previously held at Peterborough has found a new home.

The show will now be held in conjunction with the successful Malvern Three Counties Show on 14, 15 and 16 June 2013. This is an increasingly popular show and it is hoped that the new location will attract exhibitors and visitors alike to the orchid show.

Unfortunately this will clash with the North East of England Orchid Society's show at Tatton Park on 16 June in 2013 but it is hoped that this can be avoided in future years.

The dedicated website will go live in early in 2013, www.malvern-ios.org

OSGB display at 25th BOC Congress at Writhlington School

2012-11-09T08:58:00.001-08:00

The OSGB created an attractive display at the Congress, alongside orchid societies from around the country and traders from around the world. Many thanks to all the members who lent their plants for the display and to Val Micklewright and Simon Waddilove who were instrumental in its creation.

Tony Britton, Chairman of the Cumbria OS, took the trouble to bring along his unusual Cycnoches (warszewiczii x barthorium) which had timed its flowering perfectly to coincide with the Congress and was a great feature on our display. This involved packing it with the greatest care for travel on two trains followed by a car journey. Where there is a will, there is a way!

Val Micklewright's Phragmipedium besseae was covered in flowers and won 1st Place for a Phragmipedium species, along with her Phragmipedium schlimii and one of Michael McIllmurray's maxillarias which both won 2nd place rosettes in their classes.

The pupils, parents and staff of Writhlington School, led by Simon Pugh-Jones, offered visitors a warm welcome, super hospitality and a wonderful Congress. The lecture programme was varied and well attended by beginners and expert growers alike. Congratulations and thanks to everyone involved.

OSGB visit to Burnham Nurseries - 24 November 2012

2012-10-08T07:02:00.001-07:00

The OSGB is co-ordinating a visit to Burnham Nurseries on Saturday 24 November 2012. This is by kind invitation of Sara Rittershausen who has offered to provide lunch in Burnham’s excellent coffee shop as well as entry to their beautiful display house, Orchid Paradise, free for OSGB visitors.

Members around the country will need to make their own arrangements/bookings for travel. However, a group will be travelling from London Paddington to Newton Abbott station and members may join this group if they wish. Taxi/minibus transfer between Newton Abbott station and Burnham Nurseries (2 miles) will be paid for by the OSGB.

Please note: it is much cheaper to buy two singles than a return ticket www.thetrainline.com
Dep: 9:06 London Paddington Arr: 11:38 Newton Abbot (£17.00)
Dep: 17:40 Newton Abbott Arr: 20.37 London Paddington (£12.50)
(Prices correct as of 8-10-2012, for single tickets without a railcard)

Members must contact Francis Quesada-Pallares by 17 November to confirm their place for lunch and/or transport to/from Newton Abbott station, tel: 07951 070637, e-mail: ols_francisjquesadapallares@hotmail.com

Lecture programme announced for 25th BOC Congress

2012-09-29T06:03:00.001-07:00

25th British Orchid Congress at Writhlington School, 26 – 28 October 2012

Registration:
Joint £35, Single £25, Dinner £25, Science symposium and Saturday only £10
To register for the Congress, please visit www.wsbeorchids.org.uk/boc/register

Congress Lecture Programme
Congress lectures are free to registrants and cost £1 each for day visitors, except for beginners talks marked * that are free entry for all.

Saturday 27th October
11:00 – Steve Manning: Masdevallias and some other pleuros

12:00 – Jerry Fischer: Paphs and phrags culture

13:00 – Zoe Parfitt: Orchid growing for beginners*

14:00 – Mike Armstrong: The genus Cattleya

15:00 – Jeff Hutchings: Growing hardy orchids*

16:00 – Henry Oakeley: The medicinal properties of orchids

Sunday 28th October
11:00 – Johan Hermans: Recent orchid journeys around the world

12:00 – Richard Warren: Brazilian orchids

13:00 – Sara Rittershausen: Orchid growing for beginners*

14:00 – Jerry Fischer: Phragmipedium kovachii culture, hybridisation and history

15:00 – Zoe Barnes: Growing orchids the Writhlington way*

Orchid Conservation International Science SymposiumIn addition to the Congress lecture program, the OCI Science and Conservation Symposium on Saturday 27th October offers alternative lectures focused on current research into orchid science. There are four sessions each with two 20-25 minute talks. Registrants have free entry to these lectures, or day visitors can register for the Science symposium and Congress on Saturday for £10. Please visit http://wsbeorchids.org/boc/register

Saturday 27th October

9.30 - Welcome address

9.45 - Luke Barnes: Changes in orchid diversity with altitude, and over time, in the Sikkim Himalayas

         - Saul Walker – Orchids in Oz: A search for Dendrobium in the bush

10.45 - Coffee

11.15 - Karen Robbirt: The orchid (Ophrys sphegodes) and the bee (Andrena nigroaenea); a tale of two phenologies

          - Brian Yap Jing Wei – The molecular phylogeny of Paphiopedilum section Barbata as inferred from low-copy nuclear gene and plastid sequences

12.15 - Dino Zelenika: Orchid discoveries, findings and environmental impact in a remote Balkan region

          - Odile Weber: Orchids in eMonocot – an online biodiversity resource

1.15 - Lunch

2.45 - Ian Parsons: Designing experiments with orchids

        - Helen Millner: Pollination in Restrepia, using SEM to unravel the mystery

3.45 - Closing remarks and coffee

Change of date for South East Orchid Society show

2012-08-31T04:11:00.003-07:00

Please note the change of date for the South East Orchid Society's Open Autumn Show. It will now be held on Sunday 21 October (not 28 October as previously published), 14:00 - 16:00.

The venue remains the same: Ashford Rail Staff Hall, Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 7RR.

For more information please contact: Daniel Denness, tel: 01622 891894, e-mail: daniel.denness@hotmail.com, website: www.seos.care4free.net/

2013 RHS London Orchid Show

2012-08-31T04:08:00.001-07:00

The RHS London Orchid And Botanical Art Show dates for 2013 have been confirmed as 12-13 April (RHS members £5, non-members £8). A preview evening will be held on 11 April (£12). The show will be held as usual at the Royal Horticultural Halls.

The show will feature orchid displays from the finest British and international growers; tropical and hardy orchid species and hybrids to suit all budgets; lectures from experts on orchid cultivation; and stunning examples of botanical art.

The OSGB will be exhibiting at the show; please save the date to visit the show or to help in some way with the display.
To book visit www.rhs.org.uk/londonshows or telephone 0845 612 1253.

Silver-Gilt medal at Peterborough

2012-07-09T14:40:00.003-07:00

The Society gained a Silver-Gilt medal for its display at the Peterborough International Orchid Show last weekend. The exhibit featured a plant hunter's field camp, with a hut set amongst orchids exhibited in a naturalistic setting.

Against the back of the display was a cliff face of moss and cork bark covered in colourful Phalaenopsis hybrids, moss and ferns. A small valley of ferns and bark added interest between the cliff and the mound in front of it.

The hut was decorated with white Phalaenopsis and blue Vanda draped in Spanish moss. To the left of the hut was an impressive collection of Anguloa, and to the right a colourful group of Phragmipedium.

To the front of the display was a mossy mound covered with a wide variety of smaller-flowered species, including Aerides; Angraecum; Disa; Encyclia; Maxillaria; Oncidium; and Prosthechea.

The weather proved a challenge throughout the weekend, with floodwater lapping at the base of the display on Friday and threatening to submerge a group of Paphiopedilum, before being pumped out by showground staff.

(Both photos by Tony Taylor)

Congratulations to Val Micklewright and all the team who created the delightful and interesting display.

NO OSGB MEETING ON 7 JULY AT NAPIER HALL

2012-06-28T01:10:00.001-07:00

Please remember that there will be no meeting at Napier Hall on Saturday 7 July. The meeting will be held on Saturday 14 July instead, to avoid clashing with the Peterborough Interenational Orchid Show (6-8 July). The speaker on 14 July will be Michael McIllmurray talking about the OSGB trip to Ecuador.

Jerry Fischer lecture tour and pre-order information

2012-06-21T04:32:00.003-07:00

Jerry Lee Fischer of Orchids Limited, Minnesota, USA, will be speaking to three orchid societies this autumn when he visits to UK to attend the 25th BOC Congress at Writhlington School. His visit is sponsored by the British Orchid Council and all three societies have offered to open these meetings to members of any society that is affiliated to the BOC.

His engagements are as follows:

Tuesday 23 October - Cheltenham & District Orchid Society
Lecture: The history and development of Orchids Limited, hybridising and favourite orchids

Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 October - BOC Congress
Lecture 1: An overview of phragmipediums including culture
Lecture 2: Phragmipedium kovachii, history, hypbriding and culture

Wednesday 31 October - Darlington & District Orchid Society
Lecture: The history and development of Orchids Ltd, hybridising and favourite orchids

Saturday 3 November - Orchid Society of Great Britain
Lecture: Paphiopedilum, culture and overview of species

Jerry will be bringing with him pre-orders for delivery, along with a small selection of plants for sale. Pre-ordering is available now, until 15 August, details below.

To all our UK customers, from Jerry Lee Fischer, President, Orchids Limited, USA.

Orders can be placed via our website: http://www.orchidweb.com/ Scroll down to Orchid Events and click on the October 2012, Great Britain Tour.

In the UK, DEFRA (the British permit authorities) requires import fees of £59 per genus. Because of this, I must narrow my offerings to Paphiopedilums, Phragmipediums, Cattleya, Phalaenopsis and Neofinetia. These genus fees will be covered within the handling fee. (If you are interested in any other genus, you can still be part of our group order shipping to Germany in late October. You will receive an announcement of that trip later this month.)

I will also bring a limited number of selected plants for sale at each meeting.

The deadline for placing orders is 15 August 2012. Please note: No changes can be made to orders after August 15th, as we must begin preparing the required documents. It takes several weeks to process the paperwork for an October departure.

When placing your order via our website, please select only plants from these 5 genus that are noted as ‘CITES-approved for export’. We have added many new products since our last offering. You can see these new products by going to the ‘Advanced’ search on our website and looking in ‘Added to Inventory in’ link and choosing the ‘last 6 months’ option. The items will then be listed from the oldest added to the newest. They are not listed alphabetically or by category.

Once your order has been reviewed and finalized, payment is due in full to hold your order. Payment must be made in US dollars via credit card (American Express, Visa, MasterCard or Discover) or PayPal. Wire transfer is no longer an option unless your order is over US$1,000.
There is no minimum order for pickup at the Society meetings. The minimum order for shipping within the UK is US$100, shipped to one address.

If picking up your order, an additional 20% will be added to your order to cover document processing fees (5 genus fees, CITES permits, import permit, phytosanitary certificate, baggage fees). The fee for those orders being shipped within the UK is 25%. This covers the actual ship cost. One exception will be the shipping of extra-large plants such as some cattleyas, as these may require extra baggage/shipping fees due to size and weight. These possible additional costs will be calculated once we have your final order and will be charged once the order is received.

Your order will be shipped by Royal Mail or Parcel Force within the UK. Large orders may require shipping by FedEx or another carrier and may cost more to do so.

If the plants you receive do not do well in the first 2-3 weeks, please notify us and send pictures by email, if possible. I assure you that we will replace those plants on one of our next visits.

If you have any questions, please email us at orchids@orchidweb.com

Grants for orchid conservation

2012-06-15T02:09:00.002-07:00

The Barbara Everard Trust for Orchid Conservation (BETOC) was set up principally to conserve old hybrid orchids in cultivation, and also to have a greenhouse run by the OSGB to conserve them. We tried the latter in the past and it was not successful, and for the former we have had very few applications over the years.

Consequently we have supported greenhouse cultivation of orchid species in the UK, giving grants to National Collection holders under the Plant Heritage scheme (previously National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens) to improve their collections and for equipment for their greenhouses. We have also given grants for publications concerning growing orchids in greenhouses, and for some educational grants for projects involving cultivation and conservation in cultivation. BETOC does not give grants to conservation of wild orchids growing in their habitats.

From now onwards the BETOC grants and finances will appear in the OSGB Journal and Annual Supplement. A sticker is being printed for members to put in their greenhouses, which advises people to contact BETOC if the plants cannot be looked after any more. We can then arrange to collect the plants and place them with suitable growers, if a specialist collection, and with members, if general plants. So, if you or your relatives can no longer look after your orchids, BETOC will take them away and get them cared for.

The Trustees ask that applications for grants be sent to the BETOC Secretary, Val Micklewright, e-mail: val@micklewright.com

Another Chelsea over

2012-05-27T05:59:00.004-07:00

The visitors have been and gone, the medals awarded and the display dismantled. Such is the ephemeral nature of the Chelsea Flower Show but part of what makes it so magical.

Two members' plants received Certificates of Cultural Commendation from the RHS Orchid Committee. Michael McIllmurray's Maxillaria shepheardii 'Chelsea' boasted around 300 flowers and David Martin's Cymbidium Sweet Devon 'Sweet' carried eighteen pendent spikes.

Michael McIllmurray's Maxillaria shepheardii 'Chelsea' CCC/RHS

David Martin's Cymbidium Sweet Devon 'Sweet' CCC/RHS

The OSGB enjoyed a successful show and is delighted to welcome all those new members who joined during the week and hopes to see them at the Introductory Seminar on 4th August (contact Sam Hurley to book your place, tel: 07900 250247 or e-mail: sam@ballyhurley.com).

Many thanks to all the members who kindly lent their plants for the display and to everyone involved in collecting plants, building and dismantling the display, manning the stand and organising things behind the scenes.

Silver-Gilt medal for the OSGB

2012-05-23T05:54:00.000-07:00

The OSGB display received a Silver-Gilt medal from the RHS early on Tuesday morning. The exhibit scored top marks for the scale of endeavour and the quality and variety of the plants on display. Congratulations to Henry Oakeley and the entire team who were responsible for its creation.

To see Her Majesty The Queen's visit to the OSGB display, visit BBC iPlayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01j87q9/RHS_Chelsea_Flower_Show_2012_Episode_4/ and view from 53 minutes into Episode 4.