Hello and Greetings,
The next meeting of the Napa Valley Orchid Society will take place on Wednesday, August 9th at 6:00PM at the Napa Senior Center located at 1500 Jefferson Street in Napa. All meetings of the Napa Valley Orchid Society are free to attend and open to the public, so invite a friend or two.
August's meeting will feature a presentation on Cattleya Culture by Sergio Garcia.
About our speaker, Sergio Garcia
Sergio’s love of orchids began when he was just a boy of 7 or 8 years old. Sergio and his father were hooked on orchids while attending a home and garden show where we were introduced to one of the most important and respected orchid growers in Brazil's orchid history – Mr. Heitor Gloeden. Soon after that initial contact, he took us under his wing and taught us about orchids.
As a native of São Paulo, I quickly learned about many orchid species. Those that I was first in touch with are still my favorites - Cattleya, Laelia, Sophronitis, Oncidium, Paphiopedilum and Vanda. I love all orchids, but these are the ones that have continued to populate my daydreams, even when I was working on the options trading floor at the Pacific Stock Exchange!
My father and I learned about orchids together, so orchid growing became a partnership with him. Today my dad is 84 years old, and we still spend hours discussing possible crosses, preferred cultivars and plants that we still "need" to add to our respective collections. Still living in Brazil, he cultivates beautiful orchids there, while I pursue my hobby here in Northern California. I love it here. I immigrated in 1989 to Ohio. After college, my wife and I moved to California where we put down roots, made friends, and I began cultivating orchids again.
Herman Piggors, the founder of Oak Hill Gardens, taught me how to reproduce orchids in vitro, in a laboratory. I went on to learn more not only in the lab, but also about planning hybrid crosses to produce amazing orchids that are improvements over their parents.
Now at Olompali Orchids, my commercial operation, we dedicate ourselves to the improvement of species and creation of special hybrids. We produce orchids with the objective of creating show type plants, with potential for becoming the next award winners.
In parallel to our own production and breeding program, we partner with two multi-generational orchid businesses in Brazil - Wenzel Orchids and AWZ Orchids. These relationships are focused on making amazing orchids available to the American orchid world.
Sergio is currently a Lifetime Member and supporter of the Napa Valley Orchid Society.
NAPA VALLEY ORCHID SOCIETY MEETINGS ALSO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
Refreshments
We will continue to have assorted savory or sweet snacks at the meeting. Please bring something if you can. Coffee, tea and water will be provided.
Opportunity Table
This month's opportunity table plants will be provided by Sergio Garcia. Tickets can be purchased at the meeting. 6 tickets are available for $5. Proceeds help cover the cost of our speakers.
Show and Tell Table
You acquired it. You got it home safely, watered it, maybe once or twice even fertilized it....trimmed off any dead growth.....protected it from freezing or extreme heat.....perhaps re-potted it.....gave it the best light possible. The day before the orchid society meeting you realize it is in bloom re-enforcing the reason why you spent so much time and effort for it to show off those appealing blooms of favorite colors or shape.There is one last part of being an orchid grower – that is well deserved bragging rights among friends by showing off your work and skill! Oh, and the orchid in bloom as well.
You are encouraged to be a part of the monthly “Show and Tell” as an exhibitor or a judge.
Each month the Show and Tell table is judged, top 3 places earn points. Those points are tabulated at the end of the year. The member with the most points is the recipient of the Henrickson award marking their achievement. The award for 2022 will be made at this January meeting.
Future Guest Speakers
September 13 – Tyler Albrecht - topic to be determined
October 11- David Edgely – Phaleanopsis
November 8 - Annual Orchid Auction