Author: moflo

Santa Barbara International Orchid Show Recap

Posted on by moflo

OSSB Display

OSSB Display 2023 SBIOS

In case you missed it, our Society display at the show was spectacular, packed with gorgeous orchids from our members and perfectly arranged by our designer Phil Watt!  Thank you to everyone who contributed their plants and helped with the setup and removal of the display.

The sales booth was great fun again this year and kept us hopping for three days straight!  Show attendance was high and our booth location perfectly situated to let us engage with the show visitors.  We nearly ran out of plants to sell, which is great news.  Thanks to our sales staff, member contributors, and our sponsor Santa Barbara Orchid Estate for a very successful show.  Special thanks to Angela Watt our booth manager and treasurer!

Awards

The Santa Barbara International show has historically focused on awarding cymbidium orchids due to the bloom season and large number of local growers, so there are more flower trophy awards for cymbidiums than any other category.  These days, other genera are recognized at the SBIOS with a few trophies and by American Orchid Society awards and show ribbons.  Here is a sampling of the show Trophy winners.

Best Orchid in Show:  Paphiopedilum Leonard’s Pride ‘Petrus’ FCC/AOS, S/CSA, CCE/AOS exhibited by Paph Paradise (Dave Sorokowsky).

Grand Champion Cymbidium:  Cymbidium (Regal Princess x Flaming Vulcan) exhibited by Hatfield Orchids (George Hatfield)

Sweepstakes Best Display and American Orchid Society Trophy:  Cal-Orchid (James and Lauris Rose)

The complete list of award winners is available on the show website:  SBIOS Awards

It’s Orchid Show Week!

Posted on by moflo
Paphiopedilum delentaii

The 75th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show “Orchids – The Adventure Returns” at Earl Warren Showgrounds Friday-Sunday, March 10-12, 2023, 9am-5pm. Complete information on the show is on their website SBIOS.

Want to see the orchids at their freshest before the doors open?  Here’s how.

Volunteer:  Be sure to check out the Volunteers page and sign up to donate a few hours to make this show one of the best in the world.

OSSB Display Setup:  Wed, March 8, 9am-1pm – bring your orchids in for the Society Display. Assist display designer Phil Watt with installing the display. From lights to theme props, and of course orchids of all descriptions, you get to experience setting up an orchid display and get an inside view of the exhibit hall during setup.   

Ribbon Judging:  Thurs, March 9, arrive around 8:30 for 9am start. Be an Orchid Judge during the Ribbon Judging session. It looks like signups on the website have closed for this so hopefully you are on the list. A team effort, ribbon judging lets you get to know the details of exhibits, plants on display, all while hunting down the judging entries for your expert evaluation. Your team will be led by an experienced judge who will explain what to look for in the best orchids.

Sales Booth:  Fri, Sat and Sun, March 10, 11 and 12, 9am-5pm, JOIN US to staff the Society sales booth in the Sales hall. For some, shows are nice but Shopping is the real thrill. We will have plants donated by members and by the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate. Bring your divisions and spare plants before 9am on Friday to this once-a-year fund raising opportunity!

Register Plants:  Got something fantastic to display? Orchids need to sign up too. Register your plants for judging via online until 7pm on Tues, March 7 or in person at the show on Tues, March 7 through 6 pm on Wed, March 8. See the Exhibitor Guide on the show website to fill in the plant registration forms.

Visit our local nurseries on the California Orchid Trail!  Click that little down arrow on the main page of the Show website and scroll down for a map and list of orchid nurseries that will be open during show weekend including Cal-Orchid, Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, Gallup & Stribling Orchids, Westerlay Orchids, Ambriz Kingdom of Plants and Orchids Royale (by appointment).

Monthly Meeting: February 8, 2023 at 7:30 pm

Posted on by moflo
Remove the old pot, decide where to divide
Carefully pull apart the roots and pseudobulbs
One plant has become two!

This Month’s Program

Potting Demo and Hands-on Workshop!

Spring is just around the corner and your orchids know it. If you look closely, you will see new light-colored roots and flowers in sheath preparing to burst forth when the days get a bit longer and the weather warms up. February is the perfect time to start repotting your spring blooming orchids.

Our expert member growers will demonstrate how to divide and repot common types of orchids, then it’s your turn.  We will have some donated plants ready to pot up along with potting mix, pots, mixing trugs, tools, tags, and gloves.

The goal is to prepare several flats of freshly potted plants to sell in the society booth at the upcoming SB International show.  Here is your chance to learn some tips and tricks plus contribute toward your society’s income.  100% of sales from the plants will be donated to the society to fund speakers throughout the year.

Do you have overgrown plants to donate? Bring a plant that can be divided into more than one pot and learn how to repot it!  Plants need to be in good condition and free of pests. Please limit the number and size of cymbidiums.

75th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show: March 10-12, 2023

Posted on by moflo
Orchids – the Adventure Returns

Our local Spring orchid show is back!

The excitement is building as we look forward to the first orchid show to be held in Santa Barbara since March 2020. Volunteers from our society will be setting up a display, ribbon judging flowers and hosting a sales booth just like the good old days. More details later but mark your calendar and plan participate in all the activities starting on Wednesday, March 8th.

Monthly Meeting: January 11, 2023 at 7:30 pm

Posted on by moflo
Paph Lefty Kei ‘Monsoon Goddess’ FCC-AOS

This Month’s Program

Our speaker will be Marc Better who will present On the Move with Orchids: Something in Bloom All Year

Marc Better is an orchid hobbyist who has been growing plants in both northern and southern California for more than 30 years. Marc moved to Ventura with his orchid collection in 2018 and constructed a lath house in his yard, where he takes advantage of the temperate climate to grow plants near the beach. Marc will talk about the challenges and opportunities of moving a plant collection up, down and across the state to keep up with his career in biotechnology, and how the local environment influences the variety of orchids that can prosper. Over the years Marc has had greenhouses in three separate locations, but now prefers to navigate the challenges of local weather with an outdoor collection. He will offer a few tips on how to select plants that suit the local environment and how to ensure that with proper care there are flowers throughout the year.

OSSB Society News

Happy New Year!

Meeting Schedule: Starting this month, we will be meeting on the 2nd Wednesday each month in sync with AOS judging.

• 2023 Dues are due now: $40 per individual / $50 per household – see Angela at the meeting, pay no later than March
• Speakers Fund: No dues were charged for the past 2 years and costs for maintaining the society have impacted the society’s bank account. Your extra financial support will allow for high quality speakers as we ramp back up – donate at the meeting.

Volunteers: 2023 Officers, Chairs, Board Members, and other critical volunteer positions are nearly filled.

Signup sheets for Volunteers and Refreshments will be at the business table during the meeting.