New Aussie member

[Brian Hayward]

Hello to all,

I am an Aussie living in Pennsylvania and was bitten by the orchid bug about 30 years ago. Over the years I have grown and lost many orchids. My preference is to grow species orchids however my present collection has mainly hybrids.

This forum seems to be just what I am looking for - consisting of other fanatics that are prepared to help each other out. Sounds like a great scenario to me.

I look forward to communicating with as many of you as I can.

Best regards,

Brian Hayward (The wizard of Oz)

[Aniko]

Hi Brian, Welcome to the forum.
(I'm an European living in CT, unexpectedly bewitched by orchids).
Aniko.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Welcome Brian. Sounds like we are orchid soul mates. I was bitten about 45 years ago and am on my second passion now that I am retired. Mostly species, with a number of select hybrids. Picking up a lot of baby Catt clones. When they bloom, if they don't earn their keep by being absolute knock outs, off to the silent auction they go. With 30,000 different species out their to collect, I don't think I will tire of collecting during my life time.
http://www.pbase.com/schnitz/orchid_collection
I am way behind updating this site, loads of new pictures and some to removed due to loss or the convenient silent auction.

[arleneg]

Brian, hi & welcome to the forum. Since I consider myself a beginner, I look forward to reading tips from you (of course, in addition to Cynthia, Jerry and a few others ).

Cynthia, I recently joined an orchid society in my county and have learned a few new things from other members. And, in the future, I just might auction off some of my orchids after they bloom and if they're not absolute knock outs (to me, that is ).

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Silent auctions are the best part about orchid societies for those that have them. When I wrote the by-laws (with help) for our orchid society up here in Prescott, I put the Show & Tell and the Silent Auction into the by-laws as required at every meeting unless conditions made it impossible. I also got one of the 2 orchid societies in Phoenix to start having silent auctions, which I spice up with plugs from Carmela Orchids. These are many of their clones, sold in bags of 5 at shows, so its one for me, and two for each of the societies.

[mayres]

We have raffles at every society meeting instead of silent auctions - also a source of shedding plants to others. I'm wondering about the advantage of one versus the other? I suppose raffle money goes to the society and some/most auction money goes to the seller?

[greg_s]

Welcome abord Brian. Its good to see someone else from PA posting here!

Greg

[arleneg]

Mike,

The orchid society I joined had a raffle this past Monday's meeting. I won a Paph. Daisy Barclay (codefroyae x rothchildianum), and can hardly wait to see it spike/bloom. That is, if I'm successful with the care of it.

[mayres]

Cool! I got one in a raffle myself about six months ago and like-wise am anxious to see what it looks like when it blooms. It appears to be growing and doing well - it's a maude type with mottled leaves. Yours appears to be one of the more exotic types (with the rothchildianum influence) - keep us updated and post a pic so we can all ooooo and ahhhhhh when it blooms! :-)

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Raffles are great for the beginner. But when you've been growing for a while, and space is at a premium, you don't want just any old orchid any more. In cases where there is no silent auction, people get to know who has the same interests, and the swaping goes on in the background. Silent auctions provide a three or more way swap, with some proceeds going to the society in the process.

[arleneg]

Mike, you do the same, too.

[Marcia_pa]

Welcome, Brian. Another PA member here, and a newbie to orchids--I rescued a few from a big box store last month. I love to read about others' experiences growing orchids.
Marcia