Tuesday, Sept 20, 2016 OSMT Meeting

7 pm Presentation: “Beyond Sc. Beaufort – A 20 Year Odyssey in Cattleya Breeding” (refreshments at 6:30 pm)

Note: Ron from New Earth Orchids Greenhouse will be bringing a variety of orchids for sale. Be sure to pre-order at www.neworchids.com!

Location: Cheekwood Botanical Gardens – directions, 1200 Forrest Park Drive Nashville Tennessee 37205

In September, we continue to explore innovative techniques growing and breeding of orchids.

We are pleased to welcome Ron Midgett of New Earth Orchids, NM as our speaker for September 2016. Ron is an accomplished orchid hybridizer who will be describing his Cattleya hybridizing efforts with a talk entitled “Beyond Sc. Beaufort – A 20 Year Odyssey in Cattleya Breeding”

I first met Ron at the Tamiami Orchid Festival earlier this year. After introducing me from Nashville, he immediately asked if I knew Alan Bachrach and had seen his wonderful orchid collection. I said no, but Ron said,”…I would!”

While chatting with Ron, it was readily apparent, he was an innovator. His overwhelming knowledge of orchid hybridization quickly told me, he was a must speaker for the OSMT! Ron graciously accepted our invitation. We are now fortunate to have him visit Nashville talking about his efforts to produce colorful,compact sized Cattleyas.

If you love Cattleya orchids, are limited for space, a windowsill orchid grower, or growing under lights, then this is a must meeting to attend and preview some of his wonderful orchids for sale. Beautiful and vigorous hybrid Cattleyas…

I purchased some of his fine orchids, having one, Rlc. Prima Degracia “Volcano Queen” bloom the following month in February and again in July of this year!

Long history of orchid knowledge

Ron began growing orchids in 1969 in an orchid-rich environment of Southern California. Since then, he has grown orchids in many different regions of the US and in the Caribbean for 3 years. Currently, Ron resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a breeder with an emphasis on Cattleyas, Paphiopedilums, and Oncidinae. Several cultivars from his crosses have received AOS awards.

In 1990, Ron founded the New England Orchid Company in Franklin, MA. In 2003 he moved his orchid business to New Jersey and changed the name to New Earth Orchid Co. (aka New Earth Orchids). In 2010, New Earth Orchids was moved to Santa Fe, NM.

Ron is an accredited AOS judge currently serving in the Rocky Mountain Region. He has served as chairperson of AOS judging for the 2011 and 2012 New Mexico Orchid Guild Shows. In 2011, Ron was invited to participate in judging the Taiwan International Orchid Show. Ron has authored articles published in Orchids and most recently in the Orchid Digest, which gave him the prestigious Ernest Heatherington award for his article “Beyond Sc. Beaufort – A 20 Year Odyssey in Cattleya Breeding”, the subject of our presentation at the OSMT

Ron feels a special honor in receiving this award because Ernest was one of his first mentors. OSMT members are welcome to peruse his website www.neworchids.com and preorder for delivery at the September meeting. Please contact Ron directly so he can bring with him for you.