From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Stawell OS Spring Show
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2010 14:45

Here is a link to my flichr site with pics of the show held this w/e. Some names are there, others will come later, forgot to write them down.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54274258@N06/

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From: Bill Haldane
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Burnham Nursey
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2010 16:15

Members may not know the news that earlier this weekend Brian Rittershausen died after a fall exacerbated by his longterm health problems.This is sad news indeed for the orchid community as Brian represented a good deal of the history of orchid growing in the UK in particular in recent decades.
Bill Haldane

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From: Geoff Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: mail
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:35

452 . Sievekingia suavis . This is genus is considered to be a primitive
form of Stanhopea ,with much more 'ordinary' flowers, and in this case at
least, quite small , maybe 4cm across. Not long-lived, but this was the
first spike on a plant imported last year, so may do better in all respects
when better established.

453. Diaphananthe bidens. An amusing (?) story here. I bought a flask of
Paph sanderiana (from the late Bob Dadd) , at least that's what the label
said . With tiny seedlings there is no way of knowing what they are − they
all look the same irrespective of genus. But as they grew it became clear
that they were wrongly named. Bob could only say that he had been given
the seed under that name , but the identity remained a mystery ; from the
habit I thought maybe vanilla, until I discovered the flowers a few days ago
when preparing plants for the Bournemouth show . Even then I was none the
wiser although I could rule out vanilla ; but I took the plant along and it
was recognised and named by a member. Quite small flowers, maybe 1cm across
, with a scent which some thought pleasant, and others could not detect at
all. Now I know what it is I have repotted it into what may be a more
suitable compost and basket pot.

454 Aladdins cave , my car boot, when loaded with my plants for the
Bournemouth show. Our regulations only allow one entry per member in each
class, but that added up to about 15 plants ( a few classes were for 3
plants) , I did quite well, got Best in Show for the Vanda coerulea you can
see at the back, and the Dendrobium cup too

455 Aerangis (?) sp. It was named, but the pencilled label has faded quite
away. 15 flowers eventually , unusually, after the first 10 or 12 opened,
further buds started to develop further back on the spike. Leaves , only
three or four at the most, greyish green, thick, about 5 inches long ; roots
few , maybe it doesn't like the bark it has been on for a couple of years,
maybe longer , buy what to try next ?

456 Lc Preciosilla , all the flowers are a bit malformed ; maybe my culture
not too good this year, and it can/will do better in future.

457Lc Miva Royal Chocolate. Delice is, I find, the cv name. Comparison of
this year's flowers with last year's pictures confirms that I have more
flowers now, and of better shape, but poorer colour ; another aspect of too
much light earlier in the year when the flower buds were forming. ( Bright
light paler flowers and v.v. although bright light also more flowers , a
Rule of Thumb , known at least to paph growers I think.

458 Dendrobium hercoglossum. A species with flowers about 2-3cm ( or say
one inch) across. The books etc always illustrate a much darker colour-
maybe I have that unique immensely valuable variety known as Geoff Hands
pale version ! (joke).

The curious feature of this species is the dark spots of colour- which are
a nice contrast ; they are the pollinia. There are no anther caps. Maybe
this is normal in this section of the dendrobiums (?) but I have not noticed
it before , it is only supposed to be paphs which have naked (exposed)
pollinia.

It was much admired at our show , I have offered to swap keikis with anyone
who has the more usual dark pink form , any offers ?

459 Catasetum saccatum. The pic dose not do the flowers credit , they are
finer and more interesting than here seen, but had gone off before I got
around to downloading and criticising my first efforts. A better shot will
have to await another year.

The catasetiniae if that's the right word are so easy and so rewarding- why
did it take me all those years to get around to them ?

460 This is one of George Black's crosses , he made many thousand in a long
life as an amateur breeder, only registering a few of the better ones (
Orchidwiz lists almost 300 registrations of his). He gave plants away to his
friends , I joined Cotswold OS a bit too late to get more than the odd one,
and this came from him indirectly , i.e. from someone who had received it
directly. He told me 'he thought it was George's cross No 2456 or something
like that' , not much help ! Whilst the plant is still small it is clear
that it is going to have a branched spike of many flowers ( 25 on my small
plant ) and the flowers are 1 ½ inch size, so quite worthwhile.

461 C harrisoniae, bought under the coerulea variant label. It is certainly
a bluer colour than the typical flower.

462 Typical small bifoliate cattleya hybrid , Ann Akagi.

463 C loddigesii. I have several plants in flower, some mounted, some in
pots, nothing very special , best flower count is three, I'm keeping
trying.

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From: John J. Rupp
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] mail
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:35

Geoff,

Your photo 460-Miltocidium.jpg looks very much like my Colmanara Wildcat
'Bobcat' (Odontonia Rustic Bridge x Odontocidium Crowborough). I do not
know the origins of Bobcat. Unfortunately, mine is no longer around,
but it faithfully bloomed for many years with branched spikes with many
flowers around 1.5 to 2" across.

John R

On 9/27/2010 5:38 AM, Geoff Hands wrote:
> 460 This is one of George Black's crosses -- he made many thousand in
> a long life as an amateur breeder, only registering a few of the
> better ones ( Orchidwiz lists almost 300 registrations of his). He
> gave plants away to his friends -- I joined Cotswold OS a bit too late
> to get more than the odd one, and this came from him indirectly , i.e.
> from someone who had received it directly. He told me "he thought it
> was George's cross No 2456 or something like that" -- not much help
> ! Whilst the plant is still small it is clear that it is going to
> have a branched spike of many flowers ( 25 on my small plant ) and the
> flowers are 1 ½ inch size, so quite worthwhile.

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From: Geoff Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] mail
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:35

Thanks for that John ; the plant you name is also in my collection and it
may well be a case of misplaced labels ! I will study the matter further !

geoff

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From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Autumn Ladies Tresses.
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:40

Hi all,

Last day in September and we still have one of our native orchids still in flower. I am hoping to photograph at least one of them still in flower in some days time.

The first image shows the leaf rosette growing beside this years flowering stem. It will grow larger and then sit the Winter out, not being bothered at all with the weather that is thrown at it.

I will also return to this site in a few days time, maybe longer, when I will collect a couple of stems laden with ripe seed pods. Then they will be sent to a friend of mine who is trying to grow them.

I do think that it is a pity that many so called 'Orchid Growers' know almost nothing about our own native orchids. Believe me there is so very much to see, enjoy, and learn...........year after year.

Cheers, Rodge.

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