Welcome to the Palomar Orchid Society Website!

The Palomar Orchid Society, incorporated in December of 1965 was formed when a few people banded together to talk about orchids. We then grew and bloomed into the roughly 200-member group of orchid enthusiasts that we have today. We represent everything orchid in North San Diego County! Come and join us!!

The Palomar Orchid Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the understanding and cultivation of both hybrid and species orchids. We welcome members of all levels to join us for orchid fun and learning! Our mission is to promote interest in the appreciation of orchids and to provide an opportunity for their display and the exchange and dissemination of information relating to their culture.

January 2013 General Meeting

January 2013 - Alan Koch

Alan KochAlan KochWe are delighted to welcome as our first speaker for the 2013 season Alan Koch of Gold Country Orchids in Lincoln, CA.  Alan will talk on “Species Habitat and Hybrid Culture”and will teach both novice and advanced growers how to link the way a species grows in the wild with how to grow the species and it’s associated hybrids in your collection. This program is strong on orchid culture and will help us improve the ability to grow and successfully bloom our own orchids.  Alan will provide the plant table as well as offer additional plants for sale at the meeting.  

Alan owns and operates Gold Country Orchids (www.goldcountryorchids.com), where he specializes in miniature and compact Cattleyas. Alan started growing orchids in 1969 with 3 Cymbidiums given to him by an aunt.  While in college he became interested in other orchids and discovered many would grow outdoors in Southern California.  He has moved five times as his orchid obsession has led to the need for more growing space.  With the last move, he purchased 10 acres of land in Lincoln, California for his 250,000 orchids.     Read more »

Date: 
Wed, 01/02/2013 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm

November 2012 Meeting

Annual Holidays Dinner and Officers Installation

Event Date: 
Wed, 12/05/2012 - 6:00pm - 10:00pm

The Palomar Orchid Society will be holding their annual Holidays Dinner and Officer's installation on Wednesday, December 5 at Chin's Szechwan Restaurant,   Read more »

October 2012 Show and Tell

November 2012 - Gil Ho

Gilbert J. HoGilbert J. HoStanhopeas are the upside-down jewels of the orchid world. They are not often cultivated but fairly easy to grow in our Southern California climate with a few basic rules. These plants are highly fascinating as their pendant flowers are among the most highly evolved and specialized of all orchid flowers. The flower spikes emerge through the bottom of the growing basket to hang freely like birds in flight.  With an emphasis on the roughly 70 species currently recognized, Gil's talk will cover basic information about different Stanhopea growing conditions in nature and the origins of Stanhopea collecting and identification. Hybridizing stanhopeas will be mentioned briefly and the talk will conclude with an overview of cutlure conditions for growing Stanhopeas in our Southern California area. This section will serve as this month's culture class.   Read more »

Date: 
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Member of the Year 2012

Who do you think has made an outstanding contribution to the club this year?  Nominate him/her for Member of the Year.  Send the name of the individual, along with a description of their contribution, to Debra Funakoshi by Friday, October 26.  Her email address is dlf_3144@att.net.

All current members are eligible except last year’s honoree, which was Debra.  

We will vote at the next meeting to determine who will receive the honor and the name of the honoree will be revealed at the holiday dinner in December.

San Diego International Orchid Show - October 2012

Blc. Toshie's Magic – Alex Nadzan – Best of Section "Cattleya Hybrids", HCC 78
Lc. Schloat's Fancy x L. Lookalike – Phyllis Prestia – Third Place
Pot. (Slc. Golden Wax "Lone Star II" x Blc. Lone Sound "Dogashima") – Alex Nadzan – Second Place
Lc. Tropical Pointer "Cheetah" – Anita Spencer – First Place
Blc. Kathy My Love – Alex Nadzan – Third Place
Lc. Amethyst Star "Purple Flame" – Alex Nadzan – First Place
Ootaara Island Flare "Fragrance" – Alex Nadzan – Third Place
Cymbidium Chen's Ruby 'Gold Digger – Gil Ho – Second Place
Den. blue – Renate Schmidt – Second Place
Amgraecum Shooting Star – Renate Schmidt – First Place
Habenaria medusae – Renate Schmidt – Third Place
Anita Spencer and Dennis Mackewicz
Merle Robboy, Elf Mitton, and Dennis Mackewicz at the booths

These are the orchids exhibited by members of the Palomar Orchid Society that were awarded at the San Diego International Orchid Show October 6 & 7, 2012.

Source: Flickr

October 2012 Meeting

Alex Nadzan speaking on Orchid Hybridizing Basics
Cattleya hybrid seed pod
Newly germinated orchid seeds
Close-up of newly germinated orchid seeds
Orchid seedlings before replating
Seedling flask of L. tenebrosa
Deflasking orchid seedlings
Rinsing the roots of the orchid seedlings
Discussing flasking and orchid hybridization
Paphiopedilum Primechild – Merle Robboy
Cattleytonia Jamaica Red 'Sentinel' HCC/AOS – Alex Nadzan
Dendrobium limpidum – Helge Weissig
Dendrobium convolutum – Merle Robboy
Cymbidium Chens Ruby 'Gold Tiger' – Gil Ho
Unknown Cattleya hybrid – Janice Krause
Vuylstekeara Pacific Passion 'TOW' – Warren Stehle
Slc. Circle of Life 'Trailblazer' x Lc. Magic Melody – Alex Nadzan
Blc. Toshie's Magic – Alex Nadzan
Blc. Horizon Flight x Slc. Circle of Life – Alex Nadzan
Slc. Golden Wax 'Lone Star' x Blc. Love Sound 'Dogashima' – Alex Nadzan
Lc. Canhamiana v. coerulea 'Azure Skies' – Alex Nadzan
Neofinetia falcata – Alex Nadzan

Alex Nadzan gave a very educational and informative introduction to orchid hybridization from an amateur's perspective. As part of his presentation, he demonstrated the de-flasking and first potting of seedlings. The selection of plants brought in for the Show and Tell portion of the meeting was a little smaller as our attendance was below normal as well, possibly due to the Presidential debate. However, there were several very beautiful flowers to be admired.

Source: Flickr

September 2012 Show and Tell

Lctna. Zip Knot – Alex Nadzan
L. Interceps aquinii coerulea – Alex Nadzan
Kir. George 'E' – Alex Nadzan
Ctna. Capri 'Lea' AM/AOS – Alex Nadzan
Pot. (C. Chocolate Drop 'Kodama'  X Pot. Rubesence 'SVO' AM/AOS) – Alex Nadzan
Blc. Mari's Glory – Alex Nadzan
Neo. falcata (White Tara  X Crystal Palace AM/AOS) – Alex Nadzan
Slc. Naomi Kerns 'Fireball' AM/AOS – Alex Nadzan
Lc. Ann Akagi 'H&R' – Alex Nadzan
Bepi. Dave Wallace – Alex Nadzan
Lc. Mackie's Flare – Alex Nadzan
Ctna. Jamaica Red 'Sentinel'  HCC/AOS – Alex Nadzan
Neo. falcata (White Tara  X Crystal Palace AM/AOS) – Alex Nadzan
C. Chocolate Drop 'Volcano Queen' – Alex Nadzan
Blc. Oconee X Blc. Sanyang Ruby – Alex Nadzan

This month's Show and Tell has some wonderful plant photos contributed by Alex Nadzan. If you would like your orchids featured, please submit them by email before the third Wednesday of each month. This is a great opportunity to show off your collection and exhibit plants that were not quite ready or otherwise didn't make it to the monthly meetings' Show and Tell.

Source: Flickr