EMAIL: CALORCHID@COX.NET
Did you miss it??
- AOS Trustees Meeting -
Huntington Gardens
We have just returned fom the American Orchid Society Trustees meetings and Southland Orchid Show held at the Huntington Gardens and Library in San Marino, California. As always, this A.O.S. oriented bi-annual show and meeting offer the orchid grower an opportunity to see a wonderful show, buy from vendors worldwide, visit with friends from everywhere and regale in the hobby of orchids.
The Huntington is an absolutely fantastic place to spend a day just wandering the grounds. It is famous for it's expansive gardens featuring many uniquely themed gardens.
Henry Huntington was an extrmely wealthy capitalist who made much of his wealth as owner of the Southern Pacific Railroad. His California home was later donated along with a trust enabling it to continue as a premier visitor and botanical gardens as well as having a world class library, containing the Guggenheim Bible and the famous painting of 'The Blue Boy'
One of the most unbelievable sights in the Gardens is their collection of Palms and Cycads. These are some of the most interesting plants in the plant kingdom. There are large groupings of these two groups spread throughout the Gardens.
Our favorite is the spectacular succulent garden which holds an enormous variety of cacti and succulents from around the world. But we were there this time for the Show!!!
Grand champion was a spectacular cross of Den. glomeratum and Den. obtusisepalum which has an AM/AOS. Tall canes supported many large clusters of huge hot pink and orange flowers .
Cal-Orchid was happy to support the Show with an African-themed exhibit which greeted visitors as they entered the majestic conservatory.
There were many fine exhibits created both by local commercial growers and local orchid societies
One of the most exciting and educational exhibits was put in by Paul Gripp which featured 5 tables of different groups of orchids. This exhibit was one of the most interesting exhibits that we have ever seen. Seen here is a table of Laelia pumila and another of Stenoglottis.
Vendors came from all over to provide good opportinities to increase one's collection
Overall, it a was a fun and beautiful experience and we want to encourage everyone to attend and participate in future AOS Trustee Meetings. It is an experience you won't regret.
DON'T GET TOO CARRIED AWAY LOOKING AT OUR HOMEPAGE AND FORGET TO LOOK TO THE LEFT AT THE 'OUR PRODUCTS' SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE. WE HAVE LOTS OF GREAT OF ORCHIDS TO CHECK OUT!!!
calorchid@cox.net for emails...
805.967.1312 for phone calls......
Don Doehla, a teacher from Napa, checking out the inventory of Neofinetia falcatas before picking up his son for Christmas Break at UCSB. He's got his priorities just right, we think!
IS YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER a student at University of Ca. Santa Barbara? Join all the other parents here at the nursery before you visit the campus! We are only 5 minutes away. Hours are 9-4 Mon thru Sat. (except show weekends).
WELCOME TO OUR HOME PAGE. We try to update it with bits of news etc. that you may enjoy reading, or if you like, just skim past it all to find plant sale offers and show dates! OR JUST cut to the chase and select something from our Products section on the left margin that highlights specific genera of orchids to shop from.
Check out our new African plants imported from South Africa in our African section under Our Products! Many plants are in spike.
- And now a travel note from Cal...
South African Orchid Council Show
We always look forward to our trip to South Africa every three years to attend the Orchid Council Show. South Africa is one of the most scenic and beautiful countries in the world and attending the Orchid show makes it even more worthwhile.
Cal-Orchid display
Displays in this show are always something special. Each has it's own unique appeal and charm. This year's Grand Champion display was an entry from the Eastern Provence Orchid Society and was one of the most ingenious I have ever seen. What a lot of work! A miniature Stonehenge!
EPOS display
All dispalys were well-crafted and did a great job of presenting the orchids.
Sometimes, very formal exhibits were seen, like this huge one from Stoneage Nursery
Exhibitors and commercial nurseries have now discovered South Africa so there were quite a few foreign exhibitors lending a more formal and expansive aspect to the display venue.
Ching Hua Orchids display
This year the show was held in Durban, which is a tropical city on the East coast of South Africa. Unfortunately, it was a little stormy, but we enjoyed a fabulous time while staying in a beautiful, private beachfront home.
One of the most enjoyable times was going into the back country and searching for native orchids to photograph in the wild. South Africa has numerous epiphytic and terrestrial orchids; some of which are among the showiest in the world. I felt so fortunate to discover just a few of these treasures.
Eulophia petersii
There are some very disturbing things that are environmentally troubling in South Africa. The first is the huge amount of commercial forestry for pulp products that covers thousands of acres of land that was originally open forest and plains.
Fires after collection
What was even more disturbing to me was the illegal commercial collection of South African cycads for the domestic trade. We drove and hiked for miles hoping to see one of the few remaining stands of Encephalartos humilus, only to discover the large main trunk had recently been stolen.
Damaged cycad
This is a trip that every orchid grower should do at least once. After the show I was honored to stay with and travel around with the Grobler family from Nelspruit. Our friend, Lourens, is one of the most knowledgable orchid people that I know and has one of the most beautiful gardens featuring So. African plants surrounding his home.
Lourens' Garden
I want to thank all of my friends Christo, Hendrik, Lourens, Jolissa, Elro, Mire, Colin, Rob, and Douglas & Shane for making my trip one of the best ever.
The Temple's Buddha
Visitors are welcome to visit the American Buddhist Meditation Temple while at Cal-Orchid. It is a quiet sanctuary here on the nursery property.
Don't hesitate to call us if you have questions about what you see on the website, or need a suggestion! Our telephone number is 805 967-1312.