April 2019 – Fred Clarke

Fred ClarkeIt is our distinct pleasure to welcome back one of our most favorite speakers, Fred Clarke. Fred will provide us with an update on his breeding efforts with Australian Dendrobiums in a talk title "Aussie Dendrobiums and Their Cultivation". Fred has been doing extensive work on improving the hybrids in this very interesting class of orchids. As several of you may know, Aussie Dends are very tough and hardy plants that do very well in our San Diego area. They are quite attractive orchids in that they are easy to grow, tolerant of heat and cold, have fragrant flowers, and re-bloom from the old bulbs!!!  They thrive in frost-free areas and do well alongside Cattleyas under shade structures so they are a popular class for many of us to grow outside year round. Fred will review the species and latest developments in breeding and growing of this popular class of orchids. Moreover, he will cover the best practices for growing these remarkable plants. Fred also will be supplying this month’s opportunity table.

Fred is a long time, generous supporter and life member of the Palomar Orchid Society. He has been growing orchids since 1977 and has been hybridizing for 30 of those years. With over 30 years as a professional grower and manager in the horticultural industry, Fred applies these skills at his orchid nursery, Sunset Valley Orchids, located in Vista, California, just north of San Diego. His nursery’s website, http://www.sunsetvalleyorchids.com, has considerable information on plants for sale and many beautiful pics of his award winning orchids. He is a passionate orchid grower whose curiosity in orchids is broad and varied. 

Although developing Cattleya hybrids has been his sustaining interest, Fred is also actively creating new Aussie Dendrobium, Bulbophylum, Catasetum and Paphiopedilum hybrids. His pioneering work in Catasetinae hybrids led to the development of several notable hybrids receiving over 100 AOS awards. The grex, Fredclarkeara After Dark, which produced “the blackest flower ever witnessed”, has received a total of 43 awards worldwide, including eight FCC’s, six AM’s and the coveted AOS Award of Distinction. Three years ago, Fred received the Excellence in Hybridizing Award for Catasetum Alliance Hybrids by the American Orchids Society at their Fall 2016 meeting at the Huntington.  Fred is also an Accredited Judge in the Pacific South Judging Region as well as a passionate fisherman.