Western Australia Orchid Spectacular - August 2017

W.A. Orchid Spectacular Conference & Show
Rendezvous Hotel, West Coast H/W, Scarborough, Western Australia
5th & 6th August 2017

Dear Orchid Aficionado
GOOD NEWS regarding the W.A. Orchid Spectacular Conference & Show in 2017

Planning is moving apace with a number of world renowned orchid identities already accepting our invitation to present lectures for the Conference Registrants. All our overseas speakers will give two talks and bring orchid flasks for sale at the event. Pre orders will be taken for these. This is an opportunity not to be missed!! Further info as it comes to hand.

In keeping with our efforts to bring the best to WA, we offer the following speakers for your enjoyment.

Holger Perner is recognised as a world authority on Chinese Paphiopedilums and has lived and worked in China for the last 15 years, researching Paphs through his and his wife’s own orchid nursery Hengduan Mountains Biotechnology. Holger will give two talks at the W.A. Orchid Spectacular Conference & Show in 2017, and this will be a ‘must’ for all Paph lovers.

Marni Turkel is a hobby grower who has been growing orchids since 1980 at her home in Santa Rosa, California, and now has three greenhouses for orchids of differing climates. Marni has been flasking her own seedlings since 2009. Her lab is brimming over with flasks of vigorous seedlings of rare and choice species not available anywhere else. Many of the species she is propagating for sale have never been offered before.

Bill Thoms is ‘The’ world authority on Bulbophyllums, (the largest genus in the orchid world!) their culture, and hybridizing. Bill and his wife, Doris, have been growing orchids around Central Florida for almost 45 years and have received almost every award granted by the AOS as well as more Awards for Culture than anyone else in the world, (83 in over 26 genera, including 36 in the Bulbophyllum alliance (capped off with a 96 pt. Certificate of Cultural Excellence for Bulb. Frank Smith ‘The King’).

Bill says of his flasking…” I want you to be happy. If you are not happy with anything for any reason (other than my humor), I will make it right. I will treat you just like I would like to be treated. This isn't just the old runaround. I promise.”

Mark Brundrett is a Senior Scientist at the Department of Environment and Conservation in Swan Region and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia. He has also provided botanical expertise to the Environmental Protection Agency for environmental impact assessment and policy development. His orchid research focused on the conservation of WA orchids in a 4 year project which helped conserve critically endangered orchids in the Western Australian Wheatbelt by obtaining knowledge required for sustainable management and directly contributing to recovery actions.

All this (and more) for the WAOS Registrants in August 2017, for a very reasonable $100 for the first Registrant and $75 for an accompanying Registrant which includes the Opening Ceremony

http://www.waorchids.iinet.net.au/Registration.htm

The venue will be the Ballroom of the Rendezvous Hotel at Scarborough WA, which overlooks the famous Scarborough Beach. The hotel management has promised us their special room rate for registrants, so look out for this in future Bulletins. Complimentary internet access is available throughout the hotel, including event spaces. Scarborough Beach is about a 20 minute drive north west of Perth and is serviced by regular buses from the city. The venue is surrounded by many restaurants and cafes offering a wide variety of cuisines.

It is planned to have the show set up and judging completed on Friday the 4th August, and open to the public on both Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th August with the lecture program and public workshops on both days.

The WAOS Conference web site is now on line and will be updated from time to time as we have further news and information for you. http://www.waorchids.iinet.net.au/WAOS_2017.htm

Planning for the 5 day Orchid Tour of the Midwest of Western Australia for Registrants, will be a major attraction for many interstate lovers of Australian native orchids. Places on the tour led by Andrew Brown will be extremely limited, so do get in fast if you do not want to miss out. You can register your interest on our‘Expressions of Interest’ page on the Conference web site.http://www.waorchids.iinet.net.au/WAOS_2017.htm

It is, of course, early days, as the conference is still some time away, but it is never too soon to be making your plans to visit us in 2017.

We urge all orchid societies to reprint this Bulletin, and any other material from our web site in your club newsletters.

Should you have any queries or questions regarding theWAOS 2017, feel free to contact the Chairman, Bruce Larson (bruce@pegasusconsulting.org) the or the Webmaster, Tony Watkinson (waos@iinet.net.au )

Madeira’s Jardim Orquídea destroyed by fire

A collection of 50,000 orchids was destroyed on 8 August 2016 by fires which also damaged over 200 houses in Madeira. The Jardim Orquídea in Funchal dates back 110 years and had been maintained over four generations of the Pregetter family. It was considered to be one of the largest private collections in the world, with many of the specimens extinct elsewhere. Only 2,000 plants are thought to be recoverable and the future of the garden remains uncertain.

Richard Turner is part of the team behind the excellent guidebook, Madeira in a nutshell, and has set up a crowd-funding appeal to raise £50,000 to assist the restoration of Jardim Orquídea. An ambitious target, but as Richard says, it is only £1 per orchid.

If you would like to help by making a donation please visit the JustGiving page before 12 September 2016 at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jardim-orchidea

Alternatively, donations made be made direct to the garden at www.madeira-orchid.eu/

Flasks from Barrita Orchids by Scott Barrie

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

E186 Madge 'Free' HCC/AOC x Kulnura High 'Multi'

Superior line of the popular "Poached Egg" style (yellow centered white flowers). Very productive plants of award shape held on upright stems.

E170 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 Kulnura Sanctuary 'GeeBee' AM/AOC x Roberta '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 though to deep pinks. Full round shapes on arching stems.

 E127 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 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 patterns.

E212 Kulnura Dazzel 'Deep Velvet' x Bunyip 'Forest Fruit'

These are exciting! 50% deep red, the remainder will vary from pink through to purple. When combining the Bunyip line with reds like 'Deep Velvet' we have seen excellent improvement in size of flower and vigour in the plant growth.

 E039 Kulnura Sanctuary 'Dash' x Kulnura Lady 'Velvet'

Exceptionally dark red flowers! Some from the cross will have white flashes in the outer segments. The form will be fully filled in and show overall roundness. Highly desirable result from this cross.

E206 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 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. This is due to the nature of the Kaliedescope influence, as some of the orange Sarcs do not appear to be albino. Time will tell.

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 Kulnura Kaliedescope 'Yellow' x Nugget 'Solid Gold'

As part of our continued development of this genera, we are creating a line of deep golden yellow albino flowers. In this cross we are looking to bring the exceptional vigour and prolific flowering of the Kaliedescope line with the deep golden yellow of this Nugget. Expect 100% yellows held on upright spikes from this cross.