Telephone booking now available for European Orchid Show & Conference 2015

Bookings for EOS&C 2015 registration packages and the gala dinner can now be made by telephone, for those without internet access.

Please contact the RHS Ticket Line on 0844 776 6777; payment must be made by credit card at the time of booking (no cheques accepted).

Last few days for early-bird registration for EOS&C

Don't miss out on the early-bird registration rates for the European Orchid Show & Conference 2015; prices will rise after 1st December 2014. Register now to get the best value on the various registration packages available including Full, Science, Horticultural, Partner and Show only.

The Gala Dinner price will not rise - tickets are still available for the event which includes a drinks reception, four course dinner (including wine) and free prize draw at the Royal College of Physicians (price £70).

For full details visit: https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-london-shows/European-Orchid-Show-and-Conference-2015/Register

Accepted for Chelsea Flower Show 2015

We have been accepted for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2015! 

Ouur exhibit will be in the north side of the Grand Pavilion on the Best of British trail.  It will highlight our British native orchids and their exotic relatives – home-grown beauties such as Dactylorhiza fuchsii alongside established favourites such as tropical Phalaenopsis and Cattleya.

The society is delighted to welcome sponsorship from Albourne Partners Ltd, an independent advisory firm ‎headquartered in the UK with expertise across hedge funds, private equity, real assets and real estate.

Online booking is now open for RHS members and to the public from 1^st December, visit the website for full details:  https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show

European Orchid Show & Conference 2015 update

Registration now open

Online registration is now available for the European Orchid Show & Conference 2015 (EOS&C) through the dedicated EOS&C area of the RHS website, www.rhs.org.uk/eoclondon2015 

The event will run from 9 to 12 April 2015 (with a preview on 8 April) and be attended by over 60 exhibitors, including many international traders. There will be a Science Conference at RBG Kew and a Horticultural Conference in the RHS Horticultural Halls. Space at the lectures is limited so please register soon to ensure your place; the early bird rate is available until 1 December 2014.  

Judging and trophies

Qualified judges should apply to join the judging teams using the application form available through the website. Trainee judges may apply to assist with stewarding. 

The OSGB is sponsoring a trophy for Best Amateur Species. Why not start grooming your orchids for our display – it would be exciting if a member’s plant won this trophy.

Gala Dinner

Once registrants have received confirmation of their show registration they can return to the website to book additional events such as the Gala Dinner. The website is currently allowing registrants to book dinner tickets for only one person but this is being revised and registrants will soon be able to book for spouses/partners/friends – please be patient and await the updated facility.

The Gala Dinner is being organised by the OSGB and will be held on Saturday 11 April at the Royal College of Physicians by Regent’s Park. It will include a drinks reception and four course dinner with wine at this award-winning venue for £70.00 per person. 

A free prize draw will be held during the evening with a number of superb prizes to be won by some of the lucky diners.  

OSGB applies for Chelsea Flower Show 2015

The Orchid Society of Great Britain  has once again applied to exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2015.  This will be the society’s 55th Chelsea display and will celebrate British native orchids and their exotic relations. 

Ophrys apifera is Britain's
native Bee Orchid

The OSGB hopes to be included in the newly created Best of British area within the Great Pavilion. Founded in 1951, the OSGB brings together members with a wide range of knowledge and experience who are interested in orchid growing, exhibiting and conservation.

The society is delighted to welcome sponsorship from Albourne Partners Ltd, an independent advisory firm ‎headquartered in the UK with expertise across hedge funds, private equity, real assets and real estate.

OSGB Open Autumn Show on 1st November

This year's Autumn Show will be held on 1st November at Wraysbury Village Hall, The Green, Wraysbury, Staines, TW19 5NA, from 10:30 until 16:00.

Registration of plants will be from 09:00 to 11:00 with judging beginning promptly at 11:00.

There will be a competitive table show and as this is an open show, non-members are welcome to enter their orchids.  Orchids will be on display to marvel at and admire; plants and related sundries will be available to buy from various traders.

Entry to the show is free and there is plenty of free parking nearby.  Refreshments will be available, including Ploughman's lunches and home-made cakes.

For more information please contact Francis Quesada-Pallares: tel: 07951 070637, e-mail: ols_francisjquesadapallares@hotmail.com

McBean's Orchids to close

We have received the sad news that McBean's Orchids will close at the end of this month.  Unfortunately it has not proved possible to find a buyer for the nursery so it will close on 31st October.  

They will be selling off their stock of plants which includes an incredible and historic range of cymbidiums and odontoglossum-type oncidiums, along with a multitude of flasks.  Discounts will be available on purchases of five or more plants.  

If you are interested please contact the nursery directly as soon as possible: tel: 01273 400228, Resting Oak Hill, Lewes, BN8 4PR.

Trip to Borneo 2015

There are still some places left for the trip to Borneo in 2015. The trip will focus on visiting four locations to explore Borneo's amazing diversity of orchids, led by experienced field naturalist and Borneo expert Stewart McPherson of Redfern Expeditions.

Please see the travel page of our website or the OSGB Journal (2014) 63(2): 129  for full details.  

If you are interested, please contact Francis Quesada-Pallarés, tel: 07951 070637, e-mail: ols_francisjquesadapallares@hotmail.com

Paphiopedilum rothschilidanum is native to Mount Kinabalu in Borneo
(photo by Stewart McPherson)

Cake tribute paid to OSGB

OSGB Vice President Jo Kelleher received a beautiful cake on behalf of the society in June which was presented by Oak Furniture Land at the opening of their new store in Orpington, Kent, where both Jo and OSGB Display Manager Jeanette Beaney live.   

Cake creator Francesca Pitcher and OSGB VP Jo Kelleher

Oak Furniture Land paid tribute to the OSGB’s success at Chelsea by asking Kent-based cake artist Francesca Pitcher of North Star Cakes to design a cake in the shape of a jardinière of Eulophia guineensis.  This species appeared on our Chelsea display as it is native to the Sultanate of Oman, whose Ministry of Tourism sponsored us again this year. 

The cake is based on the stylised aesthetic movement in art, specifically British porcelain of the period. The jardinière is decorated with one of the species from this year’s gold-medal winning display, Cattleya purpurata, while other sections are based on enamelled jewellery depicting a generic Cattleya design. 

The astonishingly realistic Eulophia guineensis spikes were made from sugar and floristry wire, then hand painted in edible dusts. As no cutters exist for this flower the artist spent a day working on three prototypes before work could begin on the three spikes which took a further two and a half days to produce.

On being presented with the cake Jo Kelleher said ‘We are delighted to welcome Oak Furniture Land to the area and wish them every success for the future.  The floral cake tribute is a wonderful gesture to celebrate our second successive Gold medal at Chelsea and to highlight the Society’s work in conserving and cultivating orchids. We are holding a lunch to welcome new members in August and the cake will take centre stage there.’

Store Manager Fiona Cooper presents the cake to Jo Kelleher alongside
Deputy Major of Bromley, Councillor Kate Lymer

To find out more about Oak Furniture Land visit Oak Furniture Land

Silver-Gilt medal at Malvern show

The society received a Silver-Gilt medal for its attractive display at last weekend's Malvern International Orchid Show.  Held at the Royal Three Counties Showground, located beside the Malvern hills, this thriving show is an excellent reason to visit this beautiful part of the country.

OSGB Silver-Gild medal winning display at
Malvern International Orchid Show

The beautiful Malvern hills from the showground

The display featured a wide range of orchids including Anguloa x ruckeri, Maxillaria hennisiana, Encyclia Rioclarense and Dendrobium antennatum.

Anguloa x ruckeri

Maxillaria hennisiana

Encyclia Rioclarense

Dendrobium antennatum

A large,branching-spiked Phalenopsis Sogo Yukidian on the display was awarded 2nd place for Best Amateur Phalaenopsis by the show judges.

OSGB Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian
2nd place for best Amateur Phalaenopsis in Show

Photographic and Art competition results

The photographic and art competition was held alongside the AGM at the June meeting.  Many thanks to all the members who entered their wonderful photographs, paintings, drawings and artwork.

The class winners were as follows:

Class 1 - large orchid photograph
Spiranthes cernua by Nigel Johnson

Class 2 - small habitat photograph
Cypripedium calceolus by Stuart Meeson

Class 3 - large orchid photograph
Cattleya (nobilior x Marjorie Hausermann) by Sam Hurley

Class 4 - large habitat photograph
Dactylorhiza cordigera subsp. bosniaca by Sam Hurley

Class 5 - orchid display photograph
RBG Kew orchid display by Stuart Meeson

Class 6a - Orchid painting
Cymbidium Green Valley Emerald by Doreen Jenkinson

Class 6b - orchid art/craft
Paphiopedilum embroidery by Kathy Trendell

Class 7 - professional orchid photograph
Prosthechea mariae by Henry Oakeley

Malvern International Orchid Show

The society will be exhibiting at this wonderful show, now in its second year having replaced the one at Peterborough.  

Please visit us at the Royal Three Counties Showground from Friday 13 June to Sunday 15 June.  

For more information visit: www.malvern-ios.org

Gold medal at Chelsea

The OSGB has done it for the second year running - a Gold medal at Chelsea.  And full marks across all the four judging categories.  Val Micklewright and Sam Hurley were on site on Tuesday to receive the medal and were delighted to meet everyone who had seen the society featured on Countdown to Chelsea.

Sam Hurley and Val Micklewright with this year's Gold medal

Many thanks to the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism for their sponsorship and support of this year's display.

Orchids grow on every continent except Antarctica and often in areas which might seem surprising.

The Sultanate of Oman has a diverse landscape and orchids are native in the lush green mountains and valleys of Dhofar in the south of the country.

Eulophia petersii, an orchid native to Oman, made a tall, willowy centrepiece to this year's exhibit

The OSGB's Gold medal winning exhibit

Antelope dendrobiums, renantheras, dactylorhiza and cymbidiums

Masdevallias, cattleyas, oncidiums and epidendrums

Chelsea display completed

Our 2014 Chelsea display, sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism, is complete.  It has taken many hours of planning and preparation but looks beautiful and is a credit to the build team, the members who lent their plants and everyone who has contributed along the way.

Empty display - day 1

Completed display - day 6

The indefatigable Val Micklewright has led the team from the front and never looked back - many thanks, Val, from the society and from all the Chelsea visitors who will marvel at what you have achieved.

Progress at Chelsea

Our Chelsea display is almost complete with only one day of build-up to go.  Just a small section in the front left to do before adding the finishing touches of information panels and smart black cloth around the base.

The back of the display was arranged today and includes a striking orange tree covered in Dendrobium Starburst 'Firebird' and a wonderful group of 'antelope' dendrobiums which are seldom seen and little grown in this country.

Dendrobium Starburst 'Firebird' 

Singaporean 'antelope' Dendrobium 

Eastern Hemisphere progresses

The Chelsea display is progressing steadily with the addition of its Eastern Hemisphere today, including Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Renanthera and Dendrobium.

Thanks to advertising secretary Kim Solomon we have some outstanding renantheras and antelope dendrobiums on the display this year.

Renanthera 20th WOC Singapore 2011

These will be available for members to buy after the show - please contact Val Micklewright for hybrid  names and prices, tel: 01293 528615, e-mail: val@micklewright.com

Western Hemisphere takes shape

The left hand side of our display, which represents the Western Hemisphere, took shape today thanks to Andre Roux and Henry Oakley.  Orchids cascade down a mountainside into a mossy ravine.  Plants in this section include Vanilla, Cattleya,
Masdevallia, Oncidium and Anguloa.






The centre of the display will consist of plants from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, including orchids which are native to Oman, whose Ministry of Tourism is sponsoring this year's display.  An interesting terrestrial, Epipactis veratrifolia, is one of these and we are delighted to be able to include it on the display.

The cosmopolitan world of orchids - our 2014 Chelsea exhibit

Orchids are the most cosmopolitan flowering plant family on Earth. 

Sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism, the Orchid Society of Great Britain’s exhibit will demonstrate the range and diversity of natural species and man-made hybrid orchids from around the world.  

One of our VIPs (very important plants) this year will be Eulophia guineensis - possibly the most beautiful orchid native to the Sultanate of Oman.

Visit our Facebook page for daily updates of the display's progress as we work towards the show's opening on Monday 19th May (press day).  

Omani orchids on display at Chelsea

Eulophia petersii

We hope to exhibit three orchids species which are native to the Sultanate of Oman on our Chelsea display this year.  We are extremely grateful to the Sultanate's Ministry of Tourism which is sponsoring the display for the second year.

Thanks to our members and friends of the society we should be able to display attractive and easy-to-grow Eulophia guineensis, along with the more unusual Eulophia petersii which is over one and a half metres tall.

OSGB member Saul Walker at Chelsea

Saul Walker at Chelsea 2012

It was great to see OSGB member Saul Walker, the new Chelsea Flower Show manager, on the opening programme of the BBC's Countdown to Chelsea today.

Many thanks, Saul, for mentioning the OSGB during the programme and highlighting our gold medal success last year.  No pressure for 2014!

Saul was part of the OSGB's 2012 and 2013 display teams and we wish him well in his new role at Chelsea.

We begin building our display on Tuesday 13th May and are looking forward to this year's challenge.

Orchids around the world

The society's Chelsea exhibit, sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism will consider where, why and how orchids grow.

Orchids have adapted to be highly successful in almost any growing environment around the world, from the warm mountain forests of southern Oman to areas above the Arctic Circle.





They thrive in a wide variety of habitats, such as
the cool, high altitude, Andean cloud forests which
are home to Otoglossum weberbauerianum.

Species and hybrids displayed at Chelsea

The society's Chelsea display, sponsored for the second year by the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism, will include exotic species and easy-to-grow hybrids lent by its members.

Thanks to stem cell culture and large-scale commercial growers, both species and hybrid orchids are now available for everyone to grow and enjoy.

Phalaenopsis The Pride of Ben Yu will thrive on a bright, warm windowsill.

Wide variety of orchids at Chelsea

Over 25,000 species of orchids grow across every continent of the world, except Antarctica, and can be found in any area which is not permanently frozen or desert.  

Dendrophylax sallei is a leafless species native to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean.

Only a fraction of these species can feature on our Chelsea display but the variety will be extraordinary.  

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2014

This will take place from 20 to 24 May (press day 19 May) at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea in London.

This year's exhibit is titled The cosmopolitan world of orchids - 
how, why and where they grow.  It considers the varied, and often extreme, environments in which orchids thrive and survive, and introduces visitors to this most cosmopolitan flowering plant family, including such beauties as Prosthechea mariae, a species from Mexico.

The society is delighted to welcome sponsorship for the second year from the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism.  A number of orchids are native to Oman including the attractive and easy-to-grow Eulophia guineensis. 

Last year's designers, Val Micklewright and Sam Hurley, will be joined by André Roux who has designed the OSGB's last four exhibits at the RHS London Orchid Show.

The BBC plans to feature the OSGB's exhibit in its Countdown to Chelsea coverage this year and has already filmed Val and Sam as they prepare for the show.  Please will members consider lending their plants for this display, it is wonderful to show what a group of enthusiastic amateurs can produce amidst the professionals at Chelsea!

If members have plants which they would like to lend, they should contact the Displays Manager, Jeanette Beaney, who will arrange for their collection: tel: 07517 006387, e-mail: jeanette.beaney@btinternet.com

Silver Gilt medal at London Orchid Show

Congratulations to André Roux and his team for the enchanting orchid garden exhibit they created at the London Orchid Show this week. Slate steps led upwards between beds of tropical orchids onto a mossy path which meandered towards a pergola hung with exotic blooms. Many thanks to the entire team who created the display and to all the members who kindly lent their plants.

               The OSGB's orchid garden exhibit won a Silver Gilt medal at the London Orchid Show

OSGB member David Trendell's Paphiopedilum Liberty Taiwan 'Kathleen' (micranthum x hangianum) was awarded an Award of Merit by the RHS Orchid Committee. This was the first-time flowering for this plant, one of a flask of seedlings bought by David on a trip to Taiwan.

Paphiopedilum Liberty Taiwan 'Kathleen' AM/RHS