Belize Orchids

 Bruce Holst

Born in California, Bruce Holst is an internationally known botanist and explorer who has worked extensively with many of the greats in botany to codify orchids, bromeliads, hoyas and other epiphytes. His specialty is exploring and investigating the ecology of various areas to see how they affect the evolution of local species.

He studied Plant Sciences at the University of California before joining the Peace Corps where he was stationed in Honduras for several years. He taught his favorite subjects to agriculture extension agents and undertook a broad survey of all native plants in the region. He was recruited by the Missouri Botanical Garden, where he worked on the Flora of the Venezuelan Guyana for twenty years.

As head of the Botany Dept. at Marie Selby Gardens, he has a lot of technology at his disposal, a lot of experience in the field and has brought many of these finds back to Sarasota. He’s led and participated in a number of expeditions to Belize, Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela and has been involved in extensive botanical inventories of Sarasota County. When you read about intrepid explorers that go into inaccessible places, find new orchids and get to name them, this is that person!  With his great personality, wonderful pictures and so much new information, this will be a very informative and educational presentation! He loves to share his adventures with others and welcomes questions from his audience.

One of our local vendors will have a great selection of orchids for sale.

Venice Community Center.  Doors open at 6:30, Meeting starts at 7:00

When to Hold’em – When to Fold’em.   Ted Kellogg will share some of his experiences from 50 years of orchid growing.  Living in Miami, Florida, he purchased his first orchids, three cattleyas, in 1965.  Those plants were the beginning of an orchid adventure that has lasted to today. The collection has moved to Tallahassee, FL., Kingston, RI., Wakefield, RI., and recently, three locations in Englewood, Fl. During these moves Ted’s collection reached a maximum number over 2000 plants and today contains about 650 plants.

During many of the VAOS meetings members have been given advice on how to select and grow orchids.  Speaker after speaker has told us how to stop pests, bugs, viruses, bacteria, fungi etc. and what the ideal conditions are to grow our plants. But, what ones should we hold and what ones should we fold? Ted will provide ideas on how to keep your own collection in the condition, size and form that excites you.

Join us at 7:00 at the Venice Community Center.

What’s Wrong?  Vern Bloch will be answering the eternal question: “What’s Wrong With My Orchid?” at the meeting on April 6th. He will have a short power point presentation and will also have some examples of problem plants. 

Vern  is a retired navy pilot who got into orchids after leaving the service in 1987. Two years later, he and his wife Helen became owners of the Palm Bay Orchid Range. They participated in many orchid shows around the state. They sold the nursery in 2004, but continue to do business on a small scale. For the past 20 years Vern has regularly conducted programs for orchid societies ranging from the Florida Keys to North Carolina. His main interest has always been the cattleya alliance.

Vern has a lot of nice, flowering orchids, especially Encyclias, for sale and is very adept at answering questions, so come with a lot of them.

Join us at 7:00 at the Venice Community Center.