Dan Dickey, who has been growing orchids since childhood, is one of the most highly regarded growers in the Southern California area.  He was President of OSSC in 2001 & 2002, and is a Golden Circle member. Dan took over his family's collection and grows about 60% Cattleya, plus many other genera. His recognized displays in area orchid shows have earned him many awards. So, please join us to hear Mr. Dickey's tutorial on preparing and labeling plants for shows and judging.

Charles Boco will be supplying the raffle table this month. He has divided many plants from his large personal collection and would like to share them with the OSSC membership by donating them. Charles has won many awards here at the OSSC with his plants so we will be very pleased to have them. On behalf of the OSSC membership. We Thank You.

Click to see more information on OSSC's regular monthly meetings.

• 2008 ROSTER AVAILABLE: [Submitted by OSSC Webmaster Ted Augustyn on August 11, 2008] The 2008 OSSC Roster has been distributed, first sent to all members with email addresses, and then finally in printed form to all other members beginning at the August meeting. Members needing a roster can contact Membership Chair Larry Freeman to get one.
• IN MEMORIAM: [Submitted by OSSC Member and AOS Judge Norito Hasegawa on June 22, 2008] Clark Day Jr., one of the original charter members of OSSC, passed away early June 2008 after relocating to Texas approximately two years ago with his wife Grace. (The last remaining charter member to our knowledge is Glen Hiatt). Clark was one of the most gracious commercial people of his time, sharing much of his knowledge with hobbyists, especially cultural aspects. Any plant with the cultivar name 'Cerritos' or 'Picardie' originated from his immaculate greenhouse located in Cerritos, CA. He is well known for his cymbidiums (a champion in the use Early Bird 'Pacific'), Cattleyas (received a rare FCC/AOS for Sophronitis coccinea) and his paphs such as Ali Taba, a re-make of St. Ouens Bay and Cerritos.  He received an FCC/AOS for an albinistic P. micrenthum 'Picardie'.  
  Mr. Day was 90 years old.  We extend our sympathies to his wife Grace and his daughters.

• OSSC DONATES TO OCA [Submitted on 4/19/08 by OSSC President Krystine Chaparro]  With the world population growing and needing more of the land, we need to set aside parcels of land to continue to grow and flourish in the same way it always has before us and after us for all time, and this is what the Orchid Conservation Alliance (OCA) is setting out to do.

  Dr. Peter Tobias, a Director of the OCA, came to our Monday night meeting to speak and point out the habitats that have been set aside so far and the good things the OCA has been funding.  And this is why I am glad we, the Orchid Society of Southern California, presented Dr. Tobias with a donation of $1000 to the OCA, the largest donation from an orchid society to date. Additionally, OSSC Past President Alfred Hockenmaier presented Peter donations from several OSSC members.  Might I say Peter Tobias was impressed?

  I’m proud we are conservation-wise.  Our donation is a small price to pay for us to help the world save the birds, wildlife and why we attend our Monday meetings, the orchids.

• LOCAL AOS JUDGING DATE CHANGES. [Submitted by AOS Judge (and OSSC Auctioneer) Doug Overstreet]  After over 50 years of meeting on the 2nd Monday evening of the month, the American Orchid Society Pacific South Judging Center is changing the day of the monthly judging sessions! Beginning on January 14, 2008, our monthly judging sessions will be held as follows:

  TIME: 2nd Saturday of each month, 10:00 a.m.
  PLACE: Huntington Botanical Center, Lower Level, Huntington Botanical Gardens, Library and Art Collections, San Marino, CA
  PARKING: Available in the staff parking lot adjacent to the Botanical Center

  This is very important news and Pac South has come to this decision after much study and consideration. We feel that it is very important to include the members of our local orchid societies in our judging activities so that they may feel welcome to bring plants in for judging and to learn more about the AOS judging system.

  All sessions are open to the public. We encourage you to attend!

(Most recent articles listed first.)

• Hoosier Orchid Co. closing in August
• Tracing Tahitian vanilla
• Ted’s keen nose catches out rare orchid thief
• Bee Prefers Sex With Orchid Over Females
• Orchid sexual deceit has male wasps in a loved-up frenzy
• Orchid Species Now Extinct in Burma