AUGUST 2006  (Vol. 18 No.4)

THIS MONTH'S FEATURES:

FRONT COVER:

Dendrobium Polka 'Orange Tower' HCC/AOC

Owner: L & K Oxley

Photographer: Garrie Bromley

This introduces an article on the 'soft cane' Dendrobiums and how to grow them successfully.

A Word from the President, Jim Smith

"Remember when life was easy?  Being a member of an orchid club was something of a social get-together..."  So Jim introduces us to the bizzare world of club insurance and the high costs of protection from possible litigation. Finally, and not without some terrible headaches along the way, the Australian Orchid Council has arranged a blanket insurance cover for affiliated clubs.

Orchid Conservation and What You Can Do

Alan Stephenson is the AOC’s Conservation Officer.  In this month’s article he recounts what we all can do to protect our dwindling orchid species and those yet to be discovered.  It is up to us all to play a part.  One person is not enough, and Alan can't continue fighting for all of us on his own - the job is just too big, and politicians and big business ride rough-shod over us.

Orchids in Paradise - an Idyllic Setting for Milo Bali Adelaide Orchids

John Harris visited Milo Bali Adelaide Orchids, and Stephen Monkhouse, on the Indonesian island of Bali early in the year and tells us in words and photographs what he found.  Stephen relocated his Adelaide Orchids nursery to Bali a couple of years ago.  It is interesting to read of the progress in their new home.  John Harris is a former  Secretary of the AOC (14 years I think) and served two terms (6 years) as President, and is a Fellow of the AOC.

Soft Cane Dendrobium Culture

Colin Jennings, Publications Director, rediscovered this article in our vault.  It was written by Sandy Anderson who, with wife Ollie, owned Banana Coast Orchids some years ago (since retired).  Sandy was reknowned for his ability to grow these orchids and flower them to perfection.  Many have tried to emulate his success and few have succeeded.  Why?  Because they don't follow Sandy's secrets religiously.  Sandy imported thousands of plants from the famous Yamamoto nurseries in Japan and Hawaii. It's all here again, all his tips, BUT it is no use only going at it half-heartedly.  Modern illustrations of seven hybrids.  Photos by Dave Harmer.

Award Photography

Colin Jennings, as Registrar General of Judging for the AOC, gives an update on the situation of Award photography.  The uptake of digital photography has seen a marked decline in the availability and processing of slide film, used as the standard for Award records.  Digital photographs will become the norm at some time but the various Registrars want some rules to ensure integrity.  Colin goes on to provide some tips in taking award slides and has provided examples of bad photographs submitted in the last couple of years.  All that is needed is a little more thought by the photographer about the subject, the available light, the background and extraneous objects.

Clowesetum White Magic 'Krisett'

When Jeff Glover wrote of his passion for Catasetums and their relatives in our previous issue, he had no idea what lay in store for him.  The week the June issue was mailed out he went to the Tropical Queensland Orchid council annual conference and show in Townsville and took along a few plants.  Clowesetum White Magic 'Krisett' was judged Reserve Champion of the show and was awarded a HCC and an AD to boot.  There is an excellent photo of this beauty accompanying the article.

Houshold Sponges and Cotton Balls Save Endangered Orchids

Yes, you read correctly.  Ruth Raleigh finished her PhD at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with a thesis on using ordinary household sponges and cotton balls to raise species of Pterostylis and Arachnorchis seedlings - the result of three years work.  Who needs agar?  And guess what?  They like the sponges to be green or blue!!!  An excellent series of six photographs shows the results quite clearly.  Ruth is now working to save endangered orchid species with DPI in Hamilton in Victoria.

Annual Nominations for the AOC Orchids of the Year 2005

It's that time of year again when the Registrar General of Judging teases us by presenting the nominated orchids for the round of Orchids of the Year and prompts us to chose which should win in the four categories.  The nominations come from the judging panels in each State and the judges have voted.  The winners will be announced at the AOC Annual General Meeting in October, and published in Orchids Australia in December, and on our website soon after.  There are 20 colour plates to whet your appetite.

And more…