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| The Palomar Orchid Speaker of the Month Current Speaker March, 2010 - POS Welcomes Norito Hasegawa speaking on Judging Orchids 
Norito Hasegawa is a retired dentist, an overextended hobbyist (considered commercial for tax purposes), is a 3 million miler travelling to many foreign countries talking and/or judging in places such as Japan, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Taiwan, England, France, Switzerland and many many cities in the USA. He is primarily a hybridizer of Slipper Orchids (Paphiopedilum) although his interests and collection of 15,000 orchids include miniature cattleyas, phalaenopsis, cymbidiums and variegated orchids of all sorts. He first became interested in orchids after seeing orchids in mass at the World Orchid Conference held in Long Beach in 1966. After he bought his first orchids, he failed miserably, but persisted in trying to grow them outdoors, and in no time he had hundreds. Now, he can’t imagine his life without orchids. Orchids are an endeavor of science, taxonomy, hybridizing, art, sociability, quiet reflections, and mad parties—join the addition and fun. Past Speakers February 2010 - POS welcomes Ron Kaufmann, PhD Ron Kaufmann is the chairperson of the San Diego Counnty Orchid Society Conservation Committee. Ron has traveled extensively in South America to view orchids in the wild. Ron has been growing orchids for more than 15 years, starting with a reed-stem Epidendrum and progressing to a collection that contains mostly species orchids. He has been chairman of the SDCOS Conservation Committee since 2004. He had helped to raise and donate $150,000 to orchid conservation. January 2010 - POS welcomes Tom Biggart Tom Biggart is the owner and head grower of Granite Hills Orchids in El Cajon, California. His nursery is a hobby business, which means he doesn’t make a living growing plants. It is more of a labor of love! Tom loves plants in general, and orchids are his main passion. He is very interested in Encyclias and has a large collection of Encyclia species and hybrids. The Australian cool growers are a current interest. Mr. Biggart is in business with the Harveys of Cedarvale Orchids. They are major Australian growers and hybridizers of native Dendrobiums. Tom is a retired elementary school teacher with orchids as his new students. November 2009 - POS welcomes Dr. Joseph Arditti Dr. Joseph Arditti, Professor Emeritus, School of Biological Sciences, UC Irvine is a super orchid biologist with a great sense of humor and will speak on "Sex and the Single Orchid". Dr. Arditti has written, edited, and taught comprehensive and detailed references for professional growers, plant scientists and hobbyists. October 2009 - POS welcomes Peter Lin  Peter Lin Genus Dendrobium: a family portrait of Dendrobium species Peter Lin will be presenting a talk on this fascinating genus of over 1000 species! Dendrobiums are primarily found in Asia, New Guinea and Australia. There are many different classifications within the genus,with species ranging from tiny miniatures to huge giants. They grow in climates ranging from hot and steamy lowlands, cool and moist mountain ranges, to seasonally dry savannas. Many are quite temperature tolerant and can be grown outside in frost free areas Peter started growing orchids over 25 years ago, but then stopped due to school and starting a career. It wasn't until about 6 years ago that the orchid ""bug"" came back and he is now heavily involved once again. He is currently a probationary judge with the American Orchid Society and a hybridizer of mini-catts. He enjoys meeting with other Orchid enthusiasts, and can often be found at various Orchid shows and societies around the country. He also has hundreds of photos of his orchids that he maintains on Flickr. You can view them by typing this address into the internet: http://www.flickr.com/photos/minicatt/collections/ Due to limited growing space, Peter likes to specialize in miniature orchids, both species and hybrids, and has received numerous AOS awards. His other focus in orchids include Dendrobiums, Angraecoids, and Masdevallias. He maintains a collection of a thousand or more orchids at his home in Southern California in 3 small greenhouses, as well as in the house under fluorescent lights. Peter will be providing the plants for this month's raffle table. There will be a nice selection of orchids, so be sure to buy your tickets! September 2009 - POS welcomes Alan Koch 
Alan Koch owns and operates Gold Country Orchids where he specializes in miniature and compact Cattleya’s. Alan started growing orchids in 1969 with 3 Cymbidiums given to him by an aunt. While in college he became interested in other orchids and discovered many would grow outdoors in Southern California. He has moved five times as his orchid obsession has led to the need for more growing space. With the last move, he purchased 10 acres of land in Lincoln, California for his 300,000 orchids. He is recognized as an expert in the Brazilian Cattleya alliance and a trend setter in miniature Cattleya breeding. Alan has been published in the Orchid Digest, and the American Orchid Society magazines. He has also been published in the proceedings of the World Orchid Conference. He is an internationally known speaker. He is a past member of the AOS Judging Committee, and the Research Committee, as well as an Accredited Judge and is Vice-chair and Training Coordinator for the California Sierra Nevada Judging Center. Alan also served two terms on the Orchid Digest Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and is one of the current directors, as well as a Trustee for the AOS. July 2009 - Our Own Fred Clarke Recent Trends in Mini and Compact Cattleyas Everyone of us knows the famous Fred Clarke. He is an AOS judge, lecturer and prominent orchid hybridizer in Vista at his place, Sunset Valley Orchids. He has spoken to us before on multifloral paphs, among other topics. Most impressive is his black orchid, Fredclarkeara (check it out!). June,2009 - POS Welcomes Harry Phillips 
Harry Phillips was born in San Diego, California on July 9, 1953. His Father taught him to appreciate plants at an early age. In January of 1963 Harry’s brother Andy (of Andy’s Orchids fame) was born, and six years later is when it all started. They were both exposed to exotic plants and flowers at an early age, but when Andy became interested and latter obsessed with orchids, Harry some how resisted becoming involved with them for as long as he could. He assisted Andy in his passion by building his first two green houses, and Andy would reward him with a hybrid that was in bloom, tell him to bring it back when it goes out of bloom, and exchange it for one in bloom. Well this would only last about a year until he decided that he wanted to keep one and get it to re-bloom, the beginning of the end.
In 1986 Harry, with his soon to be wife Leslie, moved with Andy and his orchid collection to Encinitas, California. Being constantly exposed to all of Andy’s orchids was beginning to have an effect on Harry. Shortly after, Andy left for four months to Costa Rica, and placed Harry in charge of the collection. When Andy returned he found that Harry had not killed too many plants and managed to become even more addicted. Andy now, feeling more confident about leaving his orchid collection under Harry’s care, began to plan a cycling trip through South America which ended up lasting two years. After that it was all over for Harry, he was completely addicted to orchids.
Harry assisted Andy part time, with the beginnings of Andy’s Orchids, for 10 years while holding a fulltime job to pay the mortgage, going full time about 10 years ago. His passion in orchids are in the Genera Sobralia and Elleanthus, but you ask him at any particular time of the year which is his favorite orchid, and it will most likely be the one or ones in bloom at that time. He has traveled in Mexico and Ecuador viewing orchids in the wild. Harry believes that growing epiphytic orchids the way they grow in nature is best and the orchids seem to agree. He will share with you his experiences with growing mounted orchids, and would like to dispel the fantasy that growing mounted orchids is difficult. May, 2009 - POS Welcomes Loren Batchman  
Mr. Loren Batchman speaking on Diseases in Cymbidiums Loren and Nancy Batchman have been part of the Palomar Orchid Society for many years, and have always contributed greatly to our society. They own and operate Casa De Las Orquideas in Solana Beach, California. Loren is a well-known cymbidium hybridizer and AOS judge. Casa De Las Orquideas offers not only high-color cymbidiums suitable for outdoor growing in our area, but also zygopetalum hybrids and other outdoor growers. April, 2009 - POS Welcomes Chrostoper Croom Medicinal Uses of Orchids 
Christopher has been growing orchids for 11 years in San Diego, and grows mostly species orchids entirely outdoors, year-round. There are about 250 plants in his collection, and his collection has little focus: there are pepperings of Pleurothallids, droves of Dendrobiums, a number of cool-growing Vandaceous picks, Cattleya alliance members, and terrestrial oddities like Eulophia and Oeceoclades in his collection. Christopher worked with Andy's Orchids for one year and potted, watered, mounted plants and sold plants at shows; and has been the editor of the SDCOS Newsletter and a Board member for the SDCOS since 2005. He has presented at numerous orchid societies along the west coast of the U.S., as far away as Seattle, and has done a presentation for the POS in the past about orchid fragrances. His new talk will be about the medicinal and edible uses for orchids, and he promises it will be interesting. March, 2009 - POS Welcomes Norito Hasegawa speaking on Phalaenopsis
Norito Hasegawa is a retired dentist, an overextended hobbyist (considered commercial for tax purposes), is a 3 million miler travelling to many foreign countries talking and/or judging in places such as Japan, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Taiwan, England, France, Switzerland and many many cities in the USA. He is primarily a hybridizer of Slipper Orchids (Paphiopedilum) although his interests and collection of 15,000 orchids include miniature cattleyas, phalaenopsis, cymbidiums and variegated orchids of all sorts. He first became interested in orchids after seeing orchids in mass at the World Orchid Conference held in Long Beach in 1966. After he bought his first orchids, he failed miserably, but persisted in trying to grow them outdoors, and in no time he had hundreds. Now, he can’t imagine his life without orchids. Orchids are an endeavor of science, taxonomy, hybridizing, art, sociability, quiet reflections, and mad parties—join the addition and fun. He is married to Joyce, with three children Lisa, Todd and Mark with paphiopedilums named after each of them. He is owner of Paphanatics, unLimited; a judge in both the American Orchid Society and the Cymbidium Society of America for over 35 years. February, 2009 - Jason Makoto Fischer Native Orchids of Japan  Jason Fischer works and helps manage Orchids Limited in Plymouth, Minnesota with his father Jerry Fischer. Orchids Limited opened in 1978 in Minnetonka in a small retail greenhouse off of Highway 12. In 1983, Orchids Limited moved to Plymouth where they have grown into a mid-sized operation of 4 greenhouses with 15,000 square feet of growing space, a shade house, and laboratory. Jason has had a life-long education in orchids mainly from the opportunity to be raised in a family orchid business. Jason’s educational interests were strongly influenced by Japan. He studied the Japanese language and culture for 6 years in high school and at the University of Minnesota. Jason lived in Japan from 2001 to 2003, and upon return decided to import Japanese orchid species and add a new niche to the business. Having worked for his father since the age of 5, Jason has learned the orchid world from the business and hobbyists perspective. He took interest in orchid hybridization and lab work around 14 years of age, and first started breeding with phalaenopsis, which later on lead to paphs, phrags and miscellaneous hybrids. Jason’s first lecture on Neofinetia falcata at the Minnesota Orchid Society in 2004 was the kick-off for an amazing journey of lectures across America. He has a passion for orchids, and the communication skills he developed in Japan as an English teacher have helped him create interesting lectures that won’t put the audience to sleep! Jason recently took a trip to Fukuoka (May 2008) to climb a few mountains and photograph native orchids in situ. Jason was able to photograph many species such as Cymbidium goeringii, Gastrochilus matsuran, Thrixpermum japonicum and Calanthe discolor. Experience: -Lectured for over 20 different orchid societies in the US -Lectures in Japan on Paphs and Phrags -Speaker for the 19th World Orchid Conference -Coordinated the Orchids Limited laboratory from 1998 to 2000 -Currently in management, breeding and marketing for Orchids Limited January, 2009 - Kathy Creger Orchid Hunting in Jamaica Kathy Creger started collecting orchids in the 70’s when, while a college student a the University of Minnesota, she bought her first orchid. It turned into a hobby in the late 80’s and a passion in the early 90’s when she joined the Orchid Society of Minnesota. She grows several hundred species under lights and in windows and outside in the summer. She has been President of the Orchid Society of Minnesota, is President of the Pleurothallid Alliance and is an AOS Accredited Judge from the Chicago center. Kathy says her favorite orchid is “all orchids, but that she has a warm spot for Pleurothallids, Gongoras, Maxillarias and Brassias.” She grows pver 700 plants under lights and in windows. She grows mostly species that range from 1/2" tall Jamaican Lepanthes to an enormous Brassia forgettiana plant that received a CBR/AOS. For the last 19+ years Kathy has vacationed in Jamaica learning about, hunting, collecting and documenting populations of orchids on the island. Some plants are common through out the island and the surrounding Caribbean countries and some are endemic to one side of a hill. Her slide show and talk is designed to help us understand the various habitats orchids grow in on an island with diverse habitats and how we can get clues to providing better environments here at home. November, 2008 - John Walters, Rex Foster Orchids Hybridizing Cattleyas John Walters of Rex Foster Orchids has been growing and hybridizing orchids for almost 40 years. John served the Orchid Digest before moving to San Diego. He took over Rex Foster Orchids in 1970 and continued the excellent hybridization program that had started there. He attended the San Diego County Orchid Society meetings and shows, he promoted funding for the Orchid House at the San Diego Zoo and became a Board Member at Quail Botanical Gardens serving as Chair of the San Diego International Orchid Fair, now in its 13th year. Hybridizing any orchid is a complex activity. Just taking pollen from one orchid to set on another because it is in flower is akin to ‘shotgun ‘ hybridizing. Growers take time to study the genetic background of both orchids to achieve a near certain flower of quality. Individual characteristics of color, size, spots or flares, and flower count are just some of the qualities considered. John will not be discussing genetic background characteristics. His presentation will be about the mechanics of hybridization - exactly how it is done. This is something that we all have asked ourselves at one time or the other, “How do they do that?” John will be passing on his hybridizing knowledge to our members in his presentation and invites everyone to bring along a flowering plant for individual lessons. October 2008 - Mr. Shigeru Kasahara and Ms. Satomi Kasahara The Beauty and History of Japanese Orchids Ms. Satomi Kasahara of Seed Engei will be speaking at the Palomar Orchid Society monthly meeting on 1 October 2008. Her slide show talk will be on the beauty and history of Japanese Orchids, centering on Neofinetia falcata or Fukiran in Japan.
Seed Engei have specialized in Fukiran growing for 25 years. Mr. Shigeru Kasahara started collecting them when he was age 25 as a hobby and side business. He is now vice-chairman of Japan Fukiran society and chairman of Shizuoka Fukiran society (the branch office in his hometown). The family business has a store and greenhouse in Shizuoka, Japan near Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan. Two years ago, Mr Kasahara participated in the Santa Barbara orchid show for the first time. He wanted to introduce this historical orchid to California which has a climate suitable for Fukiran growing. The Fukiran has admirers among the many different peoples who live in California. With his daughter Satomi's help, he has participated in many shows in California and throughout the United States. September 2008 - Dr. Harold Koopowitz Breeding the New Miniature Hybrid Slipper Orchids Harold grew up in South Africa where he attended university majoring in both Botany and Zoology. He then completed a doctorate at UCLA in California in 1968. A professor at the University of California at Irvine since graduating he was also the Director of the UCI Arboretum for twenty years. He recently retired as a Professor of Biology in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCI, where he did research on conservation and ecology.
He is well known for his work on slipper orchids, both species and hybrids and is author of several books and a large number of research papers. His most recent books include "Orchids and their Conservation" and "Clivias" and now "Tropical Slipper Orchids" for Timber Press. Harold is the Editor in Chief of Orchid Digest. He was a founding partner in Paphanatics, unlimited. He still collects and breeds slipper orchids but now as an amateur.
Harold is a member of the Species Survival Committee for Orchids for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. He is on the board of Orchid Conservation International and is scientific advisor to the Orchid Conservation Alliance. In addition, he is a member of the International Orchid Commission. July 2008 - Marilyn Levy! The Care of Paphs and Phrags Marilyn Levy was born in Detroit, Michigan and began growing flowers with her father when she was very young. She began growing orchids 30 years ago. At first she began growing on a windowsill, then an indoor light system and finally she advanced to building a greenhouse. After a 34 year career as a schoolteacher in the Detroit area, Marilyn and her husband retired to the San Diego area in 1987 and there built a greenhouse, two lath houses and a large indoor ‘grow light’ system. She is an accredited judge of both the American Orchid Society and the Cymbidium Society of America. A prolific grower with many orchid interests, she will be sharing her expertise with us on the care of those great slipper orchids, those paphiopedilums and phragmepediums.
June 2008 - Dr. Merle Robboy!
The Orchids of Belize  Dr. Merle Robboy... An MD practicing OB/Gyn, Dr. Robboy is a prominent orchid lecturer for the AOS. He will be talking about orchids of Belize from a trip collecting and exploring habitat in several areas of the country. Belize is in Central America between Honduras and the Caribbean Sea. It is the only English speaking country in Central America. The area was first settled by the Maya and later by English pirates. However, there will be no sacrifices or walking of the plank.
He has grown orchids over 25 years and speak for the AOS on the West coast for over 15 years. His collection has over 1500 plants, more than 1/2 are species, and are grown under shade and in a greenhouse as well. He has served as president of the So. Calif. Orchid Species Society and the Newport Harbor Orchid Society. He has a wide interest in other tropical plant types and serves as a judge in the American Dahlia Society. May 2008 - Our Own Fred Clarke!
Everything about Bulbophyllums (Bulb-O-Fill-Ums) Fred Clarke... Everyone of us knows the famous Fred Clarke. He is an AOS judge, lecturer and prominent orchid hybridizer in Vista at his place, Sunset Valley Orchids. He has spoken to us before on multifloral paphs, among other topics. Most impressive is his black orchid, Fredclarkeara (check it out!). April 2008 - Dr. Ron McHatton!
Sex, Lies, and Digital Video: The Intimate Lives of Orchids Dr. Ron McHatton... Dr. McHatton, a PhD Chemist by training, is currently the AOS Director of Education and Regional Operations. Prior to accepting this position he was Apopka production manager for Kerry’s Bromeliad Nursery, possibly the largest wholesale orchid nursery in the United States and one of the largest Bromeliad wholesalers as well. Ron has been growing orchids for more than 43 years and has an eclectic collection of plants representing a wide cross-section of the orchid family. Ron’s passion for orchids has spanned virtually every growing regime from windowsills to under lights to greenhouses running from a 200 square foot hobby house to several acres of commercial growing space. Over the years his private collection has numbered in excess of 2500 plants. In addition to his professional position, Ron is an accredited American Orchid Society judge and has been volunteering for the AOS for over 25 years. During that time, Ron chaired several national committees, twice held a seat on the organization’s Board of Trustees and briefly served as vice-president. In addition to Ron’s volunteer support of the AOS, he has also been a long-time supporter of the Orchid Digest. In this role, he has served on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee for many years and as its President for three consecutive terms. As a preview, Dr McHatton will speak at the San Diego Orchid Society meeting in Balboa Park on 1 April 2008. His talk will be on "Color Inheritance in Orchids." March 2008 - Karen Muir!
A GUIDED TOUR THROUGH THE 2008 JAPAN ORCHID GRAND PRIX About Karen Muir... Karen is originally from Michigan where she began raising orchids around 1975. She was a member of the Michigan Orchid Society and held all of the offices of the Society including show chair, program chair, vice president and president. Karen became an accredited American Orchid Society Judge in 1997. In 1998, she was transferred by her Company, Lincoln Mercury, to Irvine, California. Karen retired in January 2002 and lives in Laguna Niguel, California. Karen also served 5 years as the American Orchid Society Chair of the Pacific South Judging Region and has traveled to Canada, Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, South Africa and Japan to attend and judge orchid shows. She has lectured on the Society circuit in the US, including the California Paphiopedilum Guild, the Slipper Alliance, NCOS (National Capital Orchid Society) Paphiopedilum Forum, two South African Paphiopedilum Conferences and the Paph. Forum in London, England. February 2008 - our own Loren Batchman!
Mr. Loren Batchman speaking on Identifying Orchid Viruses Loren and Nancy Batchman have been part of the Palomar Orchid Society for many years, and have always contributed greatly to our society. They own and operate Casa De Las Orquideas in Solana Beach, California. Loren is a well-known cymbidium hybridizer and AOS judge. Casa De Las Orquideas offers not only high-color cymbidiums suitable for outdoor growing in our area, but also zygopetalum hybrids and other outdoor growers. He will be speaking on "Orchid Viruses," an important subject for all of us and a a frequent question asked at meetings.....is this a virus on my plant or not??? January 2008 - Mr. Peter Lin!
Peter Lin Peter Lin will be presenting a talk on one of his favorite topics: Mini-Catts, also known as miniature cattleyas. Peter will be sharing a fast-paced presentation on these diminuitive cattleyas. The journey will begin with a review of the miniature species, early hybrids, and then to some of the relevant hybrids of today. Peter started growing orchids 25 years ago, but then stopped due to school and starting a career. It wasn't until about 5 years ago that the orchid "bug" came back and he is now heavily involved once again. He is currently a probationary judge with the American Orchid Society and a hybridizer of mini-catts. His day job is at The Happiest Place on Earth--Disneyland! Due to limited growing space, Peter likes to specialize in miniature orchids, both species and hybrids, and has received numerous AOS awards. He maintains a collection of several hundred orchids at his home in Southern California in 3 small greehouses, as well as in the house under fluorescent lights. Peter will be providing the plants for this month's raffle table. There will be some nice mini-catts as well some other great plants. | |
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