Meetings

Phyllis PrestiaOur featured speaker this month is one of our own members, Dr. Phyllis Prestia.  Phyllis will talk on the genus Cycnoches and will give the hobbyist orchid grower a thorough review of the distinctive traits of these spectacular orchids.  She will highlight the key species most popular in modern Cycnoches breeding and their influence of color and form in both primary and complex hybrids.  

Phyllis’ comprehensive review of the culture for these relatively easy to grow orchids, including tips from her own successful experiences in growing them, will allow even those new to the genus to grow, bloom and enjoy these beautiful, fragrant orchids.

The opportunity table will be provided by Sunset Valley Orchids and will likely include some cycnoches hybrid seedlings. 

Phyllis S. Prestia, Ed.D. is a retired educator and Middle School Principal, who received a Doctorate of Education at Rutgers University, where she also served as instructor in the graduate education program.  

Originally from New Jersey, she moved to California with her husband to retire in the sunny, San Diego area and grow orchids.  Her collection includes a variety of species and hybrids across several genera grown both in a small greenhouse and three outdoor growing areas under shade cloth.  

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James and Lauris RoseWe are very fortunate to have James Rose of Cal-Orchid, Santa Barbara return to POS to speak on ‘Laelias of Mexico’.  Although the genus Laelia was at one time a very large group including plants from Mexico, Central America, and Brazil, today's taxonomists have, rightly or wrongly, reduced the genus to a small group of 11 species all of which are endemic to Mexico.  These plants vary from the quite common (ex. Laelia anceps) to some of which are very rarely seen in collections. The flowers and plants are quite variable and all exhibit a classic beauty associated with other members of the Cattleya group.  All of these species are unique and have considerable worth in horticulture. Many have great potential in producing new hybrids.  James lecture will deal mostly with the variability of the many flowers and the habitats and conditions from which they grow. Hopefully, we can all share some knowledge in the wonderful world of Orchids. Cal-Orchid also will provide the plant table.   Read more »

Bruce and Yasue Kidd have grown orchids for about 15 years on the edge of the Mojave Desert in Murrieta, CA. Bruce worked as a horticultural pest control adviser for Dow AgroSciences, a 30-year career which brought him into frequent contact with commercial orchid growers in Hawaii and California. 

Since retiring in 2010, Bruce and Yasue Kidd have made several trips to Asia to see orchids in the wild, in local collections, and in nurseries. They spent the majority of their time in Thailand and Vietnam, not all of it focused around orchids. Bruce's presentation will cover some of the orchids, sights, and people one might expect or want to see during a visit to this part of the world. He'll take a close look at how the locals are working with orchids to conserve their natural legacy while expanding opportunities for ecotourism.