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Hello and greetings to all.  The next meeting of the Napa Valley Orchid Society is on Friday, August 11th at 7:00PM at the Napa Senior Center on 1500 Jefferson Street in Napa.  We are proud to welcome Curtis Gean and his presentation on "Laelia anceps… The Color forms, and its Influence in Breeding." All meetings are open to the public, so bring your friends!  

Speaker's Dinner

We will meet for dinner at 5pm at Pasta Prego (website), 1502 Main St. Napa.  If members want to attend dinner please contact Kathleen Ohlson at 707-484-5138  for a reservation by 5:00pm on Wednesday 9th of August.  Feel free to browse their menu at this link.

Featured Speaker, Curts Gean "Laelia anceps… The Color forms, and its Influence in Breeding."

Mr. Gean is a semi-retired photographer/videographer that has had a long time interest in Orchids.

After dabbling in Hybrid Roses, he was introduced to Orchids in 1970 because of a need to use some plants and flowers in a photo shoot.

The gentleman that provided his introduction, and later became my mentor,  was Homer C. Dodson. {Homer is the father of Orchid Taxonimist Calaway H. Dodson] Homer invited me to attend with him, a meeting of the local Orchid Society. I bought some raffle tickets, and won two plants.  One of those plants, Den. Petite Jewels-[Midnight x bigibbum] - is still alive and doing well.

Needless to say, He was hooked.  It has been a wonderful time the past 46 years, studying species and their cultural requirements, researching hybrids, and even in 1973 enrolling in the AOS Orchid Judging Program becoming a certified judge in 1983.

In 1996, Mr. Gean relocated to Mexico, where he spent the better part of the next 10 years learning how to survive on next to nothing.  "It was a real challenge, but I think I have become a better person as a result of it."

In 2007, he returned stateside to care for aging parents, and re-entered the AOS Judging Program.  Because of his long absence, he was required to “start over” and was re-certified in 2013.

Orchiditis is a compelling and insidious disease, it takes over your life if you let it, and becomes all-consuming.  Mr. Gean loves it, and every day he finds something new to explore.

While in Mexico, Mr. Gean had the chance to look for Orchids in the states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan, and Guerrero.  He was able to find many epiphytes and semi-terrestrial species, and because of some established contacts there, was given the opportunity to re-locate many plants slated for destruction. Because of road improvement projects and the like, many plants would have been destroyed, but were able to be re-located to a nearby area and saved.

During Mr. Gean's presentation he will be discussing the hydridizing of the Laelia anceps.  Below are two examples of L. anceps and he will reveal the parantage of each, until then see if you can guess the parentage.  Answers will be featured during Mr. Gean's presenation.

Above photos courtesy of Curtis Gean

Upcoming Events

You are more than welcome to attend the following events as a guest.  Car-pooling is recommended and ask your friends at the next meeting if there is shared interest in attending.  For more information, click the Society's name to visit their web site. 

San Francisco Orchid Society

• September 2017: Robert Pemberton – Biotic resource needs of orchid pollinators
• October 2017: Marni Turkel – Topic TBD
• November 2017: Jeff Tyler – Orchid foliage and more

Sonoma County Orchid Society

• August 8th: SCOS 60th Birthday & Bingo Bonanza – Cake, Ice Cream & Play Bingo for Orchids!
• October 10th: Cindy Hill

Diablo View Orchid Society

August 10, Orchid Auction

This will be our largest fundraising event. All proceeds will go toward our expenses i.e. speakers and especially the upcoming orchid show in October.  It will be a great opportunity to add to your collection and share your plants with other members.  Please invite your family and friends.

Gold Coast Cymbidium Growers

They return on 15 September 2017 after their summer hiatus.