Carol will be presenting a seasonally appropriate talk: Taiwan and Beyond: Summer Blooming Phalaenopsis.

Carol has been growing orchids since the 1980's when a friend in Berkeley, California, gave her a cattleya and it bloomed out with three big, dark lavender flowers and an intoxicating fragrance. She built an entire greenhouse in her backyard to accommodate the precious plant, which only led her to buy more orchids. Then another friend gave her a gift membership to the Orchid Society of California and it's been a serious hobby and passion ever since. She can recall going to monthly meetings where orchid legends such as the late Frank Fordyce would be available to answer the many questions an eager hobbyist could ask.

Carol is currently the President of the Orchid Society of California and an Accredited Judge with the American Orchid Society, California Sierra Nevada Judging Center. She is a Trustee for the American Orchid Society and writes for Orchids Magazine.

Members of DVOS are invited to a no-host, pre-meeting dinner with our guest speaker, Carol Klonowski We will meet for dinner at 5:00 pm on Thursday, July 10th at:

Sichuan Fortune House

41 Woodsworth Lane

Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Note that this is different from our usual pre-meeting dinner place! If you wish to attend, RSVP to dvosshowandtell@gmail.com by noon on Wednesday, July 9th, so we can make a reservation for the appropriate number of attendees.

We’re getting ready to reprint name tags! If you’ve lost yours or need a replacement, send a quick note to George at diablovieworchidsociety@gmail.com by Wednesday, July 9, 2025. He’ll make sure to have it ready for you at the next meeting.

Curious about repotting, watering, or why your orchid isn’t blooming? You’re not alone—and we’re here to help! Each month, we’ll feature tips and tricks from fellow members on everything from pest control to the best growing conditions.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned grower, no question is too small. Bring your questions to the next meeting or email them beforehand—your question might even be featured in an upcoming newsletter!

Keep your collection healthy by testing for virus infection. We are going to order a shipment of virus test kits (test for Odontoglossum Ringspot Virus and Cymbidium Mosaic Virus).

Prices (approximate due to unknown shipping cost):

50 kits ~$200

25 kits ~$100

10 kits ~$40

5 kits ~$20

If you are interested in buying kits, please contact Diane Bond by July 12 (bonddiane9@gmail.com).

Dear Orchid Society Members,

Summer is officially here—a season full of growth, blooms, and the perfect time for dividing your orchids! As you tend to your collection, please consider setting aside divisions for our Fall Auction this September. Contributions from generous members and volunteers like you are vital in keeping our society thriving.

For those of you venturing into orchid hybridizing, I’d like to share a bit from my own experience. Hybridizing takes a great deal of patience—something I’ve come to appreciate over more than 30 years in the hobby. While it can be challenging (especially with unreliable flasking services), the results can be incredibly rewarding. It’s a slow process, often taking 5–7 years to see blooms, but well worth it for the dedicated grower.

I’ve included photos (above) of one such success: six seedlings grown by Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids from one of my crosses—Catyclia Anjanine Kvale (Cattleya Behrensiana × Encyclia randii f. alba). This hybrid is named after a former colleague from my time at the National Park Service, while working at Fort Point National Historic Site.

As you’ll notice, while the blooms share a similar color palette, the flower forms vary, which is part of what makes hybridizing so fascinating. My current breeding focus is on increasing flower count per inflorescence and introducing the coerulea gene into future generations. I may even have a flask from one of my recent crosses available at the auction—stay tuned!

Wishing you a summer full of growth, discovery, and beautiful blooms.

Warm regards,

George Su
President
Diablo View Orchid Society

Great reason to visit Sacramento. Make a day of it! Contact Diane Bond (bonddiane9@gmail.com) or see her at the meeting for $20 advanced tickets.

June Show and Tell

Tolumnia Genting Orange

Grown by Judith Johnston

Judith brought in a beautiful small hybrid whose species ancestors are native to the Caribbean. Judith grows this in her greenhouse in Vallejo. It likes dappled to bright indirect light and cool to hot temperatures (58-85°F at night) . It likes to be watered every day but then the roots must be able to dry quickly

Catasetum Maria Mercado

Grower Jonathan Newsome

Jonathan brings in a beautiful Catasetum hybrid. He said that it came from the plant table last year when we heard Fred Clarke's talk. This plant will thrive in dappled to bright indirect light and warm to hot temperatures (66-85°F at night) . Water heavily while plant is actively growing but reduce water after psuedlbulbs mature eventually stopping water as leaves yellow and drop. Start watering again as you see new growth in the spring.

Dendrobium thyrsiflorum

Grower Yvonne Provaznik

Yvonne brought a Dendrobium species that is just coming into bloom. Dendrobium thyrsiflorum is native to many locations in Asia including India, Burma, Thailand and southwestern China. It is found at elevations from 4000- 6550 ft above sea level. It is happy in dappled to bright indirect light and cool to warm temperatures (58-75°F at night). It appreciates being heavily watered while actively growing but you need to reduce water as autumn and winter approach.

Phalaenopsis NoID

Grower Maggie Woo

Maggie brought in another of her beautiful standard Phalaenopsis hybrids. This plant requires low light and warm to hot temperatures (66-85°F at night). This plant MUST dry out between waterings.

Encyclia bractescens

Grower Judith Johnston

Judith brought in a beautiful species to share with us. You can see the beautiful wide spotted lip it gets from it parent Brassavola nodosa. This plant should be happy in dappled to bright indirect light, warm to hot temperatures (66-85°F at night). They like to be watered often while actively growing but must havehave excellent drainage. Judith grows this in her greenhouse in Vallejo.

Vanda falcata

Grown by Marcia Hart

Marcia brings in a beautiful variegated form of this species that is native to northeast Asia. In their habitat they are normally grown at an angle so that water drains away from the base of the leaves. It prefers dappled to bright indirect light and cool to warm temperatures (58-75°F at night). You should water heavily when actively growing and never allow it to dry out.

Vanda Cherry Blossom

Grower Marcia Hart

Marcia brought in another Vanda. This is a primary cross between Vanda falcata and Vanda ampullacea. This plant will thrive in dappled to bright indirect light and cool to hot temperatures (58-85°F at night). This plant likes to be kept quite moist while actively growing

Cattleya Canhamiana 'Azure Skies' AM/AOS

Grower Phyllis Arthur

Phyllis brings in another one of her beautiful Cattleyas. Cattleya Canhamiana is a primary hybrid of Cattleya mossiae and Cattleya purpurata. This plant should like dappled to bright indirect light. It will grow in cool to warm temperatures (58-75°F at night) and MUST dry out between waterings.

Guaerechea Black Comet 'Indigo Blue' AM/AOS

Grower Diane Bond

Diane brings in this striking hybrid. It is almost slate grey/blue. Striking color for being 75% Prosthechea cochleata. This plant should like dappled to bright indirect light. It will grow in cool to warm temperatures (58-75°F at night) and MUST dry out between waterings. Diane grows this plant in an intermediate greenhouse in Oakland

Cattleya Canhamiana (C.Canhamiana 'Cobalt' AM/AOS x C. Canhamiana 'Azure Skies' AM/AOS)

Grower Diane Bond

Another Cattleya Canhamiana to keep Phyllis' company. Beautiful blue Cattleyas. Diane grows this plant in a greenhouse in Oakland