Finally updated! (12/07/2004)

May, 2001: David Lambert showed us how to judge the plant table. We all enjoy the beautiful plants brought in each month, but how many of us understand how one plant gets a ribbon while others do not? Dave walked down the table, and critiqued each group, and we all worked together to award the ribbons. A fun and informative evening. Then, to top it off, Dave shared a compot he had, of a reed-stemmed epidendrum. Thanks, Dave!

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A Black Hole Goes Here. After a long break, I'm trying to keep up with the site.

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May: Abigail Chang brought some mounted orchids and showed how to use cork or treefern to give orchids a "natural" home.

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April: Allen Clark of Seattle spoke on the Maxillaria Tribe.

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March: The Brashears brought some plants that had been donated by a grower who was leaving the area. They were "raffled" off, with all members and guests receiving several plants.

The results of the mini-show came in, and it was quite successful. The host mall was very pleased, and would like the society to do it again, either next year at the same time, or perhaps in the Fall.

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February: (I really don't remember what happened this month. We were still recovering from the show)

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December: Wonderful banquet at the Farmhouse restaurant in Mt. Vernon.

January: Final discussion on the upcoming shows. Last chance to volunteer.

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November: Discussed the February Exhibit and Sale to be held at the Cascade Mall on Feb 12/13, 2000. Three or four commercial vendors and the MBOS society will put in a display, with sales tables, ready for Valentines Day shoppers. We need volunteers!

For the Program, David Lambert showed us some slides he took up at the World Orchid Conference. He covered not only displays and plants, but got shots of a lot of Orchid Bigwigs, too.

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October: Charley of Charley's Greenhouse came and showed us his new products.

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August: Dr. Carl Withner came and talked about Oncidium species.

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July: This was the Annual Picnic, always a fun time, with lots of great food and a rollicking auction afterwards.

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June: An AOS slide show was presented, on Orchids of Guatemala. It was compiled by Dr. Carl Withner, and presented by Matt Hernkind.

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May: Graham Willmore of Orchid Supply Company came and lectured on the various potting media available today, and their various virtues and drawbacks.

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April: Getting ready for the big Show. We talked about the display and plans for transporting plants to the show and back. It's going to be a big job, but willing hands will make the work go easier.

We also recieved three compots, and demonstrated repotting them into individual pots. The three crosses were:

• Doritaenopsis (Phal Maui Snowfall X Dtps. Aspen Snow) - I think it's a white
• Phalaenopsis (Sleeping Giant x Hilo Lip) - Pink, possibly reverse lip.
• Mtdm Pupukea Sunset (Milt. warcewiczii x Onc. cheirophorum)
Someone suggested that the seedlings be brought to the meetings for growth comparison. Maybe every other month or so, but it looks like another "contest" to see who can bloom one first!

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March: we rescheduled Robert Culver, from the canceled November meeting. He came with a pile of slides and a wealth of information about cool-growing Odontoglossums.

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February was the post-mortem on the show - it was a lot of work, but well worth it. Everybody had lots of fun, and the President had a special Thank You for all.

David Lambert again dazzled us with a slide show of plants and displays from various shows that he has attended over the years. He has been to many exotic locations around the world and is always willing to share his experiences with others. Thank you David. We look forward to another of your presentations.

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In January, we mostly talked about the upcoming Show in the Convention Center. Last minute details on the display, volunteers and how to get there were discussed.

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The Christmas dinner was a success, with about 20 members attending. The food was delicious, the service excellent, and a good time was had by all. Officers for the next year were voted in and installed (the vote was delayed from last month due to inclement weather), and the gift exchange dance was done.

The Mount Baker Orchid Society wishes one and all a Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year!

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Disaster has struck! The November meeting was canceled, due to wild weather and a power shortage in Mount Vernon. I don't know IF our guest speaker has been rescheduled yet, but will post that information as soon as I find out.

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In October, Charley Yaw of Charley's Greenhouse came and showed some of the products they carry for the small greenhouse and windowsill grower. Of particular interest were the new polycarbonate greenhouse lites. Although more expensive than glass, they are much more durable and provide additional insulation. Many double-walled panes will fit into existing frames designed for glass, and are flexible enough to acheive some of the ornate coved shapes that made Victorian glass houses so elegant. Additionally, some can be purchased with up to 60% shading right in the material, avoiding the need for additional shade cloth.

Some construction hints:

• When installing hollow-core panels, let the channels run vertically, and don't seal the bottom edge. This will allow moisture to run out instead of pooling and creating a breeding place for algaes and such.

• Always design for (or check for in a purchased greenhouse) a roof pitch of at least 6" rise per 12" run. This is to allow moisture building up inside the greenhouse on the ceiling to run down to the walls. It will reduce the amount of cold water dripping down onto your plants.
A word or two on fertilizers:
• There are now available some non-urea high nitrogen formulas. Apparently, the plants are unable to directly metabolize urea, and must depend on microorganisms in the soil to break them down. Unfortunately, most orchids are grown in media lacking in soil, and therefore the microorganisms as well. The contention is that when computing the available nitrogen, take the amount listed and subtract the amount that comes from urea.

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At the September Meeting, Dr. Carl Withner of Bellingham gave a talk on Cattleya species, a subject on which he is emminently qualified, having written a definitive series of reference books on this genus and its relatives. I personally missed the lecture, but have heard Dr. Withner speak in the past and he is always entertaining and informative. Formerly head of the Botanical Garden in Boston, he has been an AOS judge for many years, and has travelled all over the world.

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In August, David Lambert gave a slide presentation on AOS awarded plants. An AOS judge, David was also the Pacific Northwest Region's photographer for many years, and has an extensive collection of fine slides of the best orchids in this area. With this background, he is also able to show us why the judges choose a particular orchid over another, and what the photographer can do to maximize the beauty of his subject.

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Due to cramped space at Charley's, we've moved back to the WSU Extension facility. Location is 16602 SR-536, about a mile west of the current location. Charley's will be staying open until 7pm on meeting nights, and members will still receive a 10% discount. A word of warning: Due to increased security concerns, the gates will be locked at 7:30 pm and opened at the end of the meeting. So don't be late.

As of September 25, 2001, the Mount Baker Orchid Society meetings will be held at Charley's Greenhouse, located at 17979 State Rt. 536 (memorial hwy) in Mount Vernon. This is just about a mile east of our current location. See Charley's web site for directions. The store closes at 6:00 pm, but someone will be there to let us in. Please join us, or come early and browse.