Category Archives: Meetings

April 4th meeting features Paul & Mary Storm of Meke Aloha Orchids.

Paul & Mary

Paul and Mary are hobbyists who have a passion for anything “SCHOMBO” and their nursery in Sarasota, Florida holds what is believed to be the largest collection of Schombo-Laelia and Myrmecophila species and hybrids anywhere.

Paul was a featured presenter at the Mid-America Winter Orchid Conference in Ohio a few years ago, as well as at the Symposium on Orchid Species sponsored by the Coalition on Species at Fairchild Gardens in Miami last year. This year Paul and Mary have presented at the Merrit Huntington Memorial Symposium in Virginia, and the Orchid Extravaganza in Aruba/Curacao.

Paul is the botanical author of two RHS accepted nothogenera as well as several pending future nothogenera, and the RHS Registrar has recently created Stormara and Paulstormara as new orchid genera.  In addition, a few orchid nurseries and hybridizers have registered schombo-hybrids after Paul in honor of Meke Aloha’s “Schombo-Mission”.  Meke Aloha’s “SCHOMBO-LOVE 101” program, as well as the follow-up programs 102/103/and 104 in addition to their Species Only Program, have been enjoyed in many states in the U.S. and the District of Columbia as well as in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Aruba.  Often comments on their programs include phrases like “fantastic program”, “one of the best programs our OS has ever hosted”, and a “hit and a hoot” – whatever that means!!

Paul and Mary look forward to sharing ‘SCHOMBO-LOVE 101″ with the Venice Area Orchid Society because VAOS was  Paul’s first “home society’ for several years and he is thrilled to be a part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration.  Although Paul will be selling orchids at their program some pre-orders may be arranged by viewing their web-site at: mekealohaorchids.com.

Bill Fender and his wife Susan are celebrating 43 years of orchid growing. Their first orchid plant, Bc. Binosa, received as a gift in 1969 from Susan’s parents, is still thriving and blooming in the Fender’s greenhouses! And their greenhouses are now right here in Venice, Florida at 254 Keystone Road, Venice, FL 34292.

Bill and Susan started their nursery business in 1974. Fender’s Flora, Inc. was a wholesale nursery business for 25 years, growing Boston fern in Apopka, Florida (known as the foliage capital of the world). Bill and Susan’s orchid web site, www.fendersflora.com, has been on the internet for more than 15 years. The Fenders have received over 12 awards from the American Orchid Society.

Bill has expanded his love for orchids into a unique breeding program using selected cattleya-type orchids that have been collected over the years. His emphasis in breeding is to produce frequent bloomers with fragrant flowers. He breeds both standard and compact cattleya-types, many with spots.

Bill’s presentation, entitled “Bloom, Baby, Bloom!” will include information about how we can assist Mother Nature in encouraging our orchids to bloom. Producing more and better flowers is up to us. How do we do that?

If VAOS members and guests would like to bring their new orchid purchases from the recent orchid show, he will be glad to discuss how to grow them and answer questions.

Bill is a Florida native, born in St. Petersburg. Bill and Susan are VAOS members.