Tuesday, August 16, 2016 OSMT Meeting
7 pm Presentation: “The Genus Phragmipedium; Quest for White & Yellow Flowers” (refreshments at 6:30 pm)
6:15 pm Return of Orchids 101: Basics of Slipper orchid culture (before the meeting)
Location: Cheekwood Botanical Gardens – directions, 1200 Forrest Park Drive Nashville Tennessee 37205
David Kessler – Grower and speaker, Willowbrook Orchids, Atlanta, GA – “The Genus Phragmipedium; Quest for White & Yellow Flowers”
**Special note: David will be bringing lots of beautiful orchids in bloom and a diverse offering of Phragmipediums and Paphiopedilums.**
David Kessler is the proprietor of Willowbrook Orchids; an orchid nursery specializing in Paphiopedilums and Phragmipediums located in Marietta, Georgia. He is an accredited AOS judge in the Atlanta center and has earned over 40 AOS awards for merit and culture. Additionally, he was the 2008 recipient of the AOS special annul W.W. Wilson Award recognizing the best slipper orchid of the year. David Kessler is the head horticulturist at Atlantis Hydroponics; a gardening specialty retailer. He has written dozens of articles for trade magazines and industry blogs. His forte is in hydroponic farm design and installation. Most recently he designed a vertical farm for the Hunger Games Film Franchise.
David will be speaking on the topic of Phragmipediums. Phragmipediums (the South American slipper orchids) were mundane shades of green, brown, and pink for most of the 20th century, but then with the discovery of the scarlet red Phragmipedium besseae (and later the introduction of the Phragmipedium. kovachii with its huge size and purple color) the genus has exploded with new hybrids in a veritable rainbow of colors. [SEE BOOK GIVEAWAY @ OSMT BELOW]
David will speak about the currently recognized Phragmipedium species and then share his quest for breeding yellow and white Phragmipediums.
OSMT members are welcome to peruse his website willowbrookorchids.com and make pre-orders for delivery at the August meeting. Please make a note at checkout to bring the order to the August meeting for pick-up.
OSMT Book Giveaway!
Since the OSMT is featuring our guest speaker talking about the genus Phragmipedium, it is only fitting we give a copy of The Scent of Scandal: Greed, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Beautiful Orchid, a story of the most famous discovery of Phragmipedium kovachii in 2002. The book deals with the obsession to possess and name a new orchid discovered growing on a hillside in northern Peru. The petals of Phragmipedium kovachii stretch up like hot-pink fairy wings poised to soar away with the swollen pouch that makes it a “slipper orchid.” The story of how it got to Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida, and how reputable scientists lost their minds in the race to be first to describe it is a must read for any orchid enthusiast
A copy of this book has been donated by an OSMT member and will be given to one of our own OSMT members in attendance! You must come enter your name, hear David’s wonderful talk and be present to win! Our own OSMT president, John Cranshaw, has been a successful cultivator of this wonderful orchid and shared his wonderful plant at a recent OSMT meeting!
Return of Orchids 101: Basics of Slipper orchid culture is at 6:15 pm Tuesday Aug 16, 2016 before the meeting.
David Kessler has kindly agreed to discuss the basics of care, cultivation and enjoyment of growing slipper orchids. Please come early to the OSMT meeting and learn the secrets from one of the most experienced and knowledgeable growers in the nation.