Fred Clarke – Sunset Valley Orchids

“Today’s Mini and Compact Cattleyas”

Fred Clarke has been growing orchids for 33 years and has been hybridizing for 25 of those years. With over 25 years as a professional grower and manager in the horticultural industry, Fred applies these skills at his orchid nursery: Sunset Valley Orchids, located in San Diego, California.

Cattleyas come in many colors and shapes and the mini and compact cattleyas dazzle and sparkle with their diminutive size, robust growth and presentation. Fred will discuss the most important breeding plants and their influence on the present day hybrids available to the orchid enthusiast.  He’ll identify those most suited for our growing conditions and cover the ‘best growing practices’ for growing these little gems.

He is a passionate orchid grower whose curiosity in orchids is broad and varied.  Although developing Cattleya hybrids has been his sustaining interest, he is also actively creating new Bulbophyllum and Paphiopedilum hybrids. His pioneering work in Catasetum intergeneric hybrids led to the development of several notable hybrids, most recently the grex, Fredclarkeara After Dark, which produced “the blackest flower ever witnessed”. This grex has received eight FCC’s, four AM’s and the coveted ‘Award of Distinction’ on the first flowers shown for judging!

Fred is an Accredited Judge in the Pacific South Judging Region. His plants have received hundreds of quality awards from the American Orchid Society. He’s a renowned international speaker and always has great tips for novices and experienced growers alike. He’ll be happy to answer your questions and will have a fine selection of his quality orchids for sale.

Venice Community Center.  Doors open at 6:30.

Speaker: Roy Tokunaga

Topic: “Dendrobiums – Species, Hybrids and Culture”

Roy Tokunaga grew up on the beautiful island of Maui and earned a Bachelors in Education degree from the University of Hawaii in 1973. While in the honors program, Dr. Yoneo Sagawa, his favorite mentor, introduced him to orchids and the new emerging technology of orchid seed germination and cloning. He was recruited to work at E&R Orchids, where he honed his germination and cloning skills for seven years.  At about the same the time, Harry Akagi was growing bromeliads, and in 1981, Harry and Roy established an orchid lab in Waimanalo on the island of Oahu, giving birth to H&R Nurseries. They have their own laboratory and grow their orchids under two acres of shade houses.

Today, Roy is credited with 40-plus years of experience in hybridization with several thousand hybrids delivered.  He has been refocusing H&R to excel in the culture of species as well as providing outstanding hybrids in the Dendrobium and Cattleya alliances.  He is a long time member of several Hawaiian orchid societies and an accredited American Orchid Society judge since 1990.  He was one of the keynote speakers at the recent Sixth Annual Cattleya Symposium and continues to share his knowledge and love of orchids with society members around the country.

Roy will discuss and illustrate Dendrobium hybridization and culture and will include many of the tips and techniques for our growing requirements that he’s developed over the years. He’s a great speaker and looks forward to answering questions from his audience. He’s promised to bring many of his exceptional plants for sale as well as bringing pre-orders.

Venice Community Center.  Doors open at 6:30.