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Malibu Orchid Society
Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, November, 19 at 7:00 pm
at the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club
901 Haverford Ave., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Roberta Fox will speak on
“Orchid Hunting on the Rio Negro”
For all you armchair travelers take a virtual trip down Brazil’s Rio Negro as Roberta Fox describes her fascinating ten-day trip last June on Captain Gilberto Castro’s river Otter (pictured above) to view orchids in the wild with the Orchid Conservation Alliance. This 60 foot, four deck, twin diesel wooden vessel provided the group with comfy digs and three square meals a day while smaller motor-powered canoes guided them to explore the flora and fauna along the river banks and inlets.
The trip originated in Manaus, the capital of Bazil’s northwestern Amazonas state and the main port and hub for regional river traffic. Manaus sits near the mouth of the Rio Negro where this black-lowing river stained by tannins of rainforest leaves converges with the relatively clear Amazon. In addition to seeing orchids in their natural habit, Toucans, Scarlett macaws, parrots, Kingfishers, monkeys, and many other species appeared frequently.
Roberta began growing orchids nearly 25 years ago, when she received a Cymbidium plant from a co-worker. She attended the New Otani show that year and was so overwhelmed by the variety that she did not buy anything – the last time THAT happened! She joined several societies, and one orchid followed another. As her collection increased the process of learning how to care for the plants led to an interest in their origins and relationships. This in turn led to a focus on orchid species, since she found that the best way to understand the needs of a hybrid was to learn about the natural growing conditions of the underlying species.
Roberta has a small greenhouse, but nearly 90% of her orchids --about half hybrids and half species -- (around 1800 at last count) live outside, some 5 miles from the coast. Of those, 15% are Cymbidiums, while the balance includes a large range of other genera. She gravitates toward those orchids that can handle the southern California temperature range, but there is “always room for one more” in the back yard. Several growers have aptly observed that Roberta manages quite well to grow orchids that shouldn’t be growing in that climate. Join us for this fun travelogue along the Rio Negro.
Light refreshments will be served and all are welcome!
About us
We are an award winning, volunteer run, 501(c) (3) non-profit organization formed in the spring of 1963 to develop interest in orchids; to aid and assist members with orchid growing and culture; and to provide educational information, which shall benefit its members and the community.
We meet at 7pm on the third Tuesday of every month (except for December and August when no meetings are held), at the Pacific Palisades Woman's Club, 901 Haverford Ave.
At each meeting members benefit from expert speakers who present illustrated talks on various orchid genera and their culture. Members display orchids for ribbon judging each month and share tips on how their plants are grown. The Society also holds a silent plant auction as well as a raffle table for orchids. Upcoming events are announced and fellow orchid enthusiasts consult with each other on the culture of various orchid species.
We meet at 7pm on the third Tuesday of every month (except for December and August when no meetings are held), at the Pacific Palisades Woman's Club, 901 Haverford Ave.
At each meeting members benefit from expert speakers who present illustrated talks on various orchid genera and their culture. Members display orchids for ribbon judging each month and share tips on how their plants are grown. The Society also holds a silent plant auction as well as a raffle table for orchids. Upcoming events are announced and fellow orchid enthusiasts consult with each other on the culture of various orchid species.
