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| December Newsletter |
Growing Species Orchids
December 2009
Issue #37 |
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 Dear Friends and Customers, Phal stuartiana
Here's hoping that you all enjoyed a peaceful and "full-filling" Thanksgiving with family. We had a smaller crowd than usual this year, and unfortunately that meant more food per person, With the willpower factor hovering at an all-time low, "overindulgence" was the word of the day. Back to the health club.....!
GIFT CERTIFICATE SPECIAL: We realize that this is the biggest shopping weekend of the year, and that there are only so many dollars to go around. However, we would be remiss if we did not remind you of our effort to stretch your Holiday gift-giving dollars. Through the end of the calendar year we are offering 10% bonus dollars on all gift certificates! See details below!
SPIKING/BUDDED PLANTS! We also recently added over 20 new items to our spiked and budded plant list. These plants will be blooming soon; we are able to ship them safely next week in time for the Holidays! Check out the wide variety of colors available on the homepage. Scroll down to the bottom of the homepage to view these offerings.
ORCHID CLASS: The final fall orchid class is being held in a couple weeks (Dec. 12th). Check out the details below.
SHORT COURSE: Greg will be one of the featured speakers at the 49th annual Louisiana Orchid "Short Course," a one day series of four lectures on Saturday December 5th, in Lafayette, LA. Francisco Miranda will also be speaking that day. Details are below. If you are planning on attending and wish to order plants (shipping and handling fees are waived for pre-orders for this event), please let us know before this Wednesday.
TIP OF THE MONTH: If you read nothing else in this month's letter, please check out Liese's excellent slant on "Growing Species Orchids" at the bottom of this page!
We wish you all the very best for a healthy, fun and safe Holiday Season. Thank you for your help and support during this challenging year!
Sincerely,
Greg, Liese and Hermann |
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| Orchids in Spike and Bud
Rlc. Ranae Eugene
Winter blooming season is upon us! The burst of warm weather and sunshine over the first three weeks of November yielded a bounty of spiking Phalaenopsis and many other varieties, just fixin' to bloom over the next several weeks. See what's about to pop by going to the homepage and scrolling to the bottom! Available for shipping the week of November 30th (this coming week!) Right now the forecast for the following week (Dec 7th) is looking too cold to ship perishables.
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Louisiana Orchid "Short Course"
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Lafayette, LA 8am-4pm
Lectures and AOS Judged Show
This is the 49th annual version of this classic. Greg Butler from Oak Hill Gardens and Francisco Miranda of Miranda Orchids will be the featured speakers at this event. Topics include:
"Beyond the Flower: Appreciating the Idiosyncracies of Orchid Species" - Greg
"Orchid Taxonomy Part 1" - Francisco
"Orchid Taxonomy Part 2" - Francisco
"Growing Orchid Species in a Warm Climate' - Greg
PRE-ORDERS are welcome; shipping and handling will be waived!
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Holiday Gift Certificates
10% Bonus Special
Order a gift certificate from Oak Hill Gardens now through Decmber 31st and receive 10% bonus dollars to spend at the nursery. For instance, if you order a $35.00 certificate, you will be billed for $35.00 but will receive a certificate in the amount of $38.50! Plus we will mail it for free to either your door or that of the recipient.
You may order the certificates directly from the website and receive the 10% bonus on any of the denominations listed. However, if you need a certificate in an amount you do not see, please phone, fax or e-mail us and we will be happy to tack on the 10% bonus to any dollar amount you specify.
See the link below for details.......
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Orchid Class
"Expanding Your Orchid Abilities"
Saturday December 12th, 2009 10am
The last class of the year, and probably the last one until next March or April, is coming up in two weeks. Liese will share her insight on growing some of the more unusual orchids, and how to enhance your collection through diversity! She has been growing since she was ten years old! I'll not tell you her age, for fear of retaliation, but I can tell you her older son is about to turn 19......You do the math......
Hope to see you there. More info is at the link below!
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Growing Tip of the Month - by Liese
Growing Species Orchids
Ansellia, Biermannia, Cirrhea, Eulophia, Huntleya, Tainia.....the list of unusual species of orchids seems never-ending. There are over 30,000 species of orchids known to man worldwide. The species orchids are the varieties that are found in nature throughout the world - not hybrids or crosses - just the natural ones growing on limbs, rocks and in the ground. The species are what we, here at Oak Hill, find the most fascinating; it is this group of orchids in which we specialize.
The shrinking/elimination of of natural orchid environments, a general ban on collecting wild specimens, and international import and export restrictions have severely limited the availability of species orchids. In some cases, they are no longer available at all. Oak Hill Gardens has successfully been able to artificially propagate many of these unusual varieties right here in our laboratory. Hermann has amassed an extensive stud plant collection that continues to produce seed for propagation. We also import orchids from all over the world, from other growers with varied stud collections who specialize in species reproduction as well.
Growing these species from seed can be an arduous task. Many plants will produce a nice fat seed pod, only to have it abort during a hot summer week. Some of these fruits often do not contain viable seed. Others may produce good seed, but the seed may be extremely difficult to grow, requiring specific light, temperatures and media to germinate.
The orchid world is a very complex and interesting place. The species orchid are especially fascinating due to ther unusual flower structures and unique growth habits. Most are easy to grow, and will add interest to you orchid collection. There is, however, not an endless supply of some of these rare gems. Many varietes will yield a large batch of seedlings, and consequently will not successfully set an pod or produce viable seed for years thereafter. Some only produce small amounts of seed which grow slowly. Another issue is mold taking over inside the flasks, destroying the plantlets before they can get to a manageable size.
There is no "Orchid Warehouse" from which most of these unusual plants can be ordered. This fact adds to the unique nature of the orchid growing hobby. Collecting that rare species can be frustrating, challenging and fun.
Oak Hill Gardens will continue to look for, propagate and import as many new and interesting varieties as possible, as long as you are willing to continue appreciating and collecting them!
-Liese |
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Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Greg, Liese and Hermann |
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