Meetings of the Sacramento Orchid Society (SOS)
Sacramento Orchid Society has monthly meetings open to everyone. Plenty of Free parking is available. There is no cost to attend meetings and you do not have to be a member. Meetings are held the FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month.
NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY May 1, 2013
Doors open 6:00pm Meeting at 7:00pm
EVERYONE WELCOME! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER!
THE ODD FELLOWS HALL
The "Plant Doctor" will be available prior to the meeting in the kitchen from 6:15-7 pm
Our AOS Judges have generously offered to provide this service while they are sequestered
before to their judging session. If you have an ailing plant in need of diagnosis, please
bring it enclosed in a plastic zip-top bag to prevent any transmission of pests or diseases.
OUR SPEAKER : Bruce Rogers
Bruce Rogers, author of The Orchid Whisperer, Expert Secrets for Growing Beautiful Orchids, will be our speaker this month and will touch on, "Orchid travels, better orchid growing, and the culture of Sobralias". He will provide the raffle table and have copies of his book for sale, too. Bruce began his professional career in Atlanta, growing orchids in the greenhouses at Piedmont Park. He later returned to San Francisco as head grower in the boarding department and as a hybridizer of Vandas. In the 1980's he began his own orchid consulting and management company. In 2002, he joined Terry Root of The Orchid Zone and co-founded OZGARDENS, devoted to growing and hybridizing Sobralias. He is on the Advisory Council at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers and is the Ambassador for the San Francisco Orchid Society.
WHAT TIME?
Official meeting times start at 7:00pm, however the doors are open at 6:00pm and we encourage members and visitors alike to arrive in this first hour, as there is opporuntiy for socializing, talking, buying raffle tickets, looking at plants brought in by other members and to purchase plants. Meeting adjourn times vary, however usually meetings are over between 9:00pm and sometimes go as late at 9:30 or 9:45pm.
WHERE?
Our regular meetings meet at: Odd Fellows Hall, 1831 Howe Ave. (921-0569), Sacramento. This Odd Fellows Hall is near the intersection of Howe and Alta Arden. It is nestled behind Cost Plus Imports and Chik Filet, next to Exotic Plants.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO FIND AT A MEETING?
Meetings feature expert speakers from around the world, opportunities for members to sell plants to one another, a raffle of plants, and a delightful measure of fellowship and good times. Theres a show and tell table where you can bring in your blooming orchids, refreshments (desserts) and educational and fun talks. Plus there is a library where you can check out books!
Plant Raffle: Our guest speaker normally supplies plants for the evening's raffle table. This is a fantastic opportunity to obtain great plants at a very low cost! Our society spends approx. $400 each month on plants (often at a sizeable discount from retail). Raffle tickets cost $1.00 each You can also get FREE raffle tickets by brining in plants for the show & tell table and for bringing in a dessert or helping in the kitchen.
Show & Tell: Our members bring plants to each meeting for the enjoyment of others. This is our opportunity to brag and show off our personal achievements. For every plant you bring to Show & Tell, you receive one free raffle ticket.
Refreshments: Refreshments are provided by the membership on a sign-up basis (usually desserts). When you bring snacks to a monthly meeting, you receive ten free raffle tickets
Plant Sales Table: The plant sales table is provided for members to bring in extra plants from home that they wish to sell. This is an opportunity for all members to obtain nice orchid plants at very reasonable prices. The society collects 15% of the sale price of each plant.
OTHER EVENTS
Annual Orchid Plant Sale & Show: Our members take pride in participating in one of the most attended and well presented floral shows in the Sacramento area.
Field Trips: Occasionally, the society has field trips. Sometimes its to a nearby orchid grower, other times its a photographic journey to find (not collect) local orchids. Sometimes these are drive yourself or car-pool events and other times we charter a bus/motorcoach and charge a nominal fee to ride.
New Comers Meetings aka Educational Events: Each month, experienced growers open their homes and greenhouses to new members and growers to teach important basics such as repotting, disease control and other informative subjects. You can ONLY find out about these events if you are a member via the newsletter.
The Sacramento Orchid Society was founded in 1947 as an educational organization dedicated to providing information on the cultivation of orchids to the greater Sacramento community. The organization currently includes nearly 190 households and over 270 people. The Society's very active membership grows an almost unimaginable number of orchid species and hybrids on windowsills, patios, and in greenhouses.
More Information: SacramentoOrchidSociety@gmail dot com (replace dot with . )