Tuesday 22 March 2016

Exciting Sarcochilus and Oncidium hybrids available to pre-order

Scott Barrie of Barrita Orchids will be visiting the UK on a British Orchid Council (BOC) sponsored tour to speak at the BOC Congress in Norwich on 5 and 6 Novembber.  He will also be speaking to OSGB members at Napier Hall on Saturday 12 November (please note change of meeting date).

Flasks of exciting new Sarcochilus and Oncidium hybrids bred by Scott Barrie can be pre-ordered from Barrita Orchids for delivery at Scott’s talks to societies around the country or at the BOC Congress in Norwich. 

Sarcochilus (Kulnura Ripple x Bunyip) is just one example of Barrita Orchids’ exciting breeding programme
(photo by Sam Hurley) 

Flasks contain 25 plants and cost £65 per flask, including shipping and documentation (this works out at £2.60 per plant). Society members might like to join together and share a few flasks. Please place orders direct with Barrita Orchids before 30 September by emailing: scott@barritaorchids.com.au

A list of the hybrids available can be viewed below. Please note Scott’s statement that ‘descriptions are expressed in terms of expectancy – due to the complex nature of these hybrids unforeseen expressions may occur’.Examples of most of the parents can be viewed on the website www.barritaorchids.com.au   


Flasks from Barrita Orchids by Scott Barrie

It is my pleasure to offer growers in the UK the latest in Sarcochilus and Oncidium development through this listing.  Flasks contain 25 plants planted.  Descriptions are expressed in terms of expectancy.  Due to the complex nature of these hybrids unforeseen expressions may occur.  Please email orders to scott@barritaorchids.com.au before 30 September 2016.  Cost per flask is £65 and includes freight and documents.  For photos of parents, follow Barrita Orchids, Kulnura on Facebook.

E186 Sarc                   Madge ‘Free’ HCC/AOC x Kulnura High ‘Multi’
Superior line of the popular “Poached Egg” style (yellow-centred white flowers).  Very productive plants of award shape held on upright stems.

E170 Sarc                   Bunyip ‘Salmon’ x Parma ‘Lemon’
Wonderful development of the albino yellow line from this cross.   Expect 50% yellow from this matching.  The remainder will be orange, red and pink.

E069 Sarc                   Kulnura Sanctuary ‘GeeBee’ AM/AOC x Robert ‘Good Yellow’
This is an interesting cross of the fabulous awarded ‘GeeBee’ combined with the albino Roberta.  I expect to see a range of colours from oranges through to deep pinks.  Full round shapes on arching stems.

E127 Sarc                   Elegance ‘Super’ x Sweetheart ‘Speckles’
Exact remake of the famous Kulnura Dragonfly.  Full-shaped, patterned flowers of the highest quality.  These are my favourite colour style.

E030 Sarc                   Elegance ‘Super’ x Peace ‘On Earth’ AM/AOC
These will be long arching spikes of full-shaped, patterned flowers with exceptional texture.  Recommended for those who like great diversity of flower colours and patterns.

E212 Sarc                   Kulnura Dazzel ‘Deep Velvet’ x Bunyip ‘Forest Fruit’
These are exciting!  50% deep red, the remainder will vary from pink through to purple.

E039 Sarc                   Kulnura Sanctuary ‘Dash’ x Kulnura Lady ‘Velvet’
Exceptionally dark red flowers!  Some from the cross will have white flashes in the outer segments.

E206 Sarc                   Kulnura Roundup’ Multi spot’ x Kulnura Gizmo ‘Big’
I love the spotted style, so busy!  These are two of the biggest in our purple spotted line.  Expect open shaped flowers on arching stems.

E193 Sarc                   Kulnura Kaliedescope ‘BK’ x Amber ‘Gold’
Lovely peach yellow flowers from this cross.  There will also be a small percentage of pinks and possibly some reds, due to the nature of the Kaliedescope influence.

E126 Sarc                   Kulnura Kaliedescope ‘Yellow’ x Roberta ‘Good Yellow’
These will be some of the most gorgeous lemon yellows we have seen so far.  Expect very productive plants covered in spikes of albino yellow flowers.  100% yellows from this cross.

E123 Sarc                   Kulnura Kaliedescope ‘Yellow’ x Nugget ‘Solid Gold’
Creating a line of deep golden-yellow albino flowers.  Expect 100% yellows from this cross.


F007 Onc                    Kulnura Triumph ‘Absolute’ x Kulnura Delight ‘Freck’
Looking for the latest in Oncidiums?  These are fantastically impressive, large varicosum style flowers with bold spotting across the skirt.  Great size and excellent flower count.

F008 Onc                    Kulnura Triumph ‘7’ x Kulnura Triumph ‘8’

Exceptional form of traditional varicosum style Oncidium.  Golden skirts with dark brown petals.  Huge flowers on massive arching spikes. 


Sunday 13 March 2016

Lecture by Phillip Cribb at RHS London Orchid Show

Our April meeting will take place on Saturday 2 April, but not at Napier Hall. It will be held in the Conference Centre next to the RHS Lawrence Hall in conjunction with the RHS Spring Plant Extravaganza (which incorporates the London Orchid Show being staged in the Lindley Hall). The Conference Centre is up the steps to the right of the main Lawrence Hall doors. The show will be open from 1 to 2 April 2016, 10:00–17:00 (preview 31 March 18:00–21:00). Tickets for the RHS show may be purchased in advance at a discounted rate (RHS members £6.00 and non-members £9.00); for further details please visit www.rhs.org.uk/london-orchid-show

Our meeting will consist of a lecture by guest speaker Phillip Cribb who will talk on Following in the footsteps of the great plant hunters in western China. Admittance to the lecture will be free on production of an OSGB membership card but if you would like to attend please book in advance by contacting Sam Hurley, tel: 07900 250247, e-mail: sam@ballyhurley.com (we need to know numbers because some tickets will also be sold to members of the public). Doors open at 14:00 and the lecture begins at 14:30; there will be no table show or raffle.


OSGB members will have to pay to enter the RHS show. Unfortunately there will be no refreshments available in the Conference Centre although there are excellent cafés within the RHS show.

Wednesday 9 March 2016

OSGB and NEOS display wins Holford Medal from RHS

An OSGB display has been awarded the Holford Medal by the RHS for the second year running. The Holford Medal is awarded annually by the RHS for the best exhibit of plants staged at an RHS show during the year by an amateur group.

The OSGB and NEOS Gold medal winning display
(photo by Sam Hurley)
It was awarded for the joint display staged by the OSGB in collaboration with the North of England Orchid Society at RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. The display was sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism and revisited the OSGB's 2014 Chelsea exhibit, displaying orchids from the four hemispheres.  Species and hybrids were arranged in a naturalistic setting and a bright border of Disa along the front of the display created a vibrant highlight to the exhibit.

Masterminds of the display, Val Micklewright (OSGB) and Chris Burrows (NEOS) received the award on behalf of their societies at an RHS award ceremony in London in February 2016.

Val Micklewright and Chris Burrows received the RHS Holford Medal on behalf of the OSGB and NEOS
(photo by Johan Hermans)

Monday 7 March 2016

Lend your orchids for Wisley's display at RHS London Orchid Show

RHS Garden Wisley is hoping to source some specific orchids in flower for its display at the RHS London Orchid Show, 1st and 2nd April.

If you might have any of the following which will be flowering in time for the show please contact David McLaughlin at RHS Garden Wisley, tel 01493 224234 (main reception, ask for Peter Jones/David McLaughlin) or e-mail: davidmclaughlin@rhs.org.uk

Miltonia Purple Queen (spectabilis
x russelliana

Miltonia spectabilis ‘Moreliana’

Aliceara Peggy Ruth Carpenter (Aliceara Tahoma Glacier x Miltonia Purple Queen)

Aliceara Tahoma Glacier (Bratonia Cartagena x Oncidium Alaskan Sunset)