Monthy "Share and Learn" Orchids Click below on graphic to view the orchids that were presented at each monthly meeting.

May Picnic In lieu of the regular general meetings, the annual picnic is held. Here is an opportunity for club members, families and friends to just have a good time, enjoy one another, as well as commune with nature. May 2019 Return to Events Photo Review

Introduction to Orchids...101 (Part 2) The three pages were designed to provide an "orchid pre-primer" to those who have limited knowledge of orchids and want introductory information. Perhaps, more experienced orchid enthusiasts might find interesting facts, as well. The source for this information was Wikipedia (Wiki Website) which is a collaboratively edited, multilingual, free-access, free content Internet encyclopedia that is supported and hosted by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation and owned by Wikimedia Foundation. Please note that each section is notated by the use of a linking button to each specific Wikipedia webpage as a means of referencing the source. The EALOC publisher/editor extracted basic information and photographs from Wikipedia about each of nine orchid groups for this EALOC website. Next to each title is a button where the reader may want to go to the Wikipedia website for indepth reading regarding each specific orchid group. Encyclia · Greek enkykleomai ("to encircle"), referring to the lateral lobes of the lip which encircle the column. · Occurs in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, and other regions of the tropical Americas and grows in lowland forests at altitudes up to 1,000 meters. · Most of these species are found in seasonally dry forests where the humidity tends to remain high throughout the year, though precipitation is infrequent, sometimes lacking for months. They are most common in dry oak forests. · Most species have stiff, drought-resistant leaves and large onion- shaped pseudobulbs. · Many are cultivated as ornamental plants. · Flowers may last over a month. · Easily overwatered and require only a periodic misting during the winter. · Have continuously growing rhizomes that eventually create a large mass. In cultivation, growers will divide them by hand to prevent the plants from forming unwieldy mounds. An exception is Encyclia tampensis which does well in a mounded form and does not need to be divided. Go To Wikipedia Oncidium · First described by Olof Swartz in 1800 with the orchid Oncidium altissimum , which has become the type species. · Name derived from the Greek word onkos , meaning "swelling" and refers to the callus at the lower lip. · Widespread from northern Mexico, the Caribbean, and some parts of South Florida (one species) to South America and usually in seasonally dry areas. · Most species are epiphytes (grows in trees), although some are lithophytes (grows in or on rocks) or terrestrials. · Characterized by the presence of column wings, presence of a complicated callus on the lip, pseudobulbs with one to three leaves, and several basal bracts at the base of the pseudobulbs. · Flowers come in shades of yellow, red, white and pink. Petals are often ruffled on the edges, as is the lip. The lip is enormous, partially blocking the small petals and sepals. Go To Wikipedia Paphiopedium · Genus name established by Ernst Hugo Heinrich Pfitzer in 1886. · Derived from Paphos (a city in Cyprus, a place sacred to Aphrodite and ancient Greek pedilon "slipper". Ironically, no paphiopedilum is found on Cyprus. Often called the “Venus slipper”. · Native to Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, southern China, New Guinea and the Solomon and Bismarck Islands. · Naturally occurs among humus layers as terrestrials on the forest floor, while a few are true epiphytes (grows in trees) and some are lithophytes (grows in or on rocks). · Lack pseudobulbs and, instead, grow robust shoots, each with several leaves. · Commonly referred to as the "lady's-slippers" or "slipper orchids" due to the unusual shape of the pouch-like labellum of the flower. · Pouch traps insects seeking nectar. · Never been successfully cloned for unknown reasons, thus, every plant is unique. Go To Wikipedia Return to Introduction Menu Introduction, Part 3

Learning Through Sharing This page is dedicated to showing the plants that members brought from their personal collections to share with others at a monthly meeting. Thereby, club members learn through sharing. Each plant is presented, discussed, admired and appreciated. An added feature of this sharing activity results in members feeling closer to each other, creating an atmosphere of friendship and closeness. October 2022 Bulbophyllum [Bulb.] medusae Jorge Li Bulbophyllum [Bulb.] fascinator Diane Dickhut Encyclia [E.] boothiana Jorge Li Return to "Share and Learn" Page

Learning Through Sharing This page is dedicated to showing the plants that members brought from their personal collections to share with others at a monthly meeting. Thereby, club members learn through sharing. Each plant is presented, discussed, admired and appreciated. An added feature of this sharing activity results in members feeling closer to each other, creating an atmosphere of friendship and closeness. February 2024 Phalaenopsis Norman’s Mini Eagle Jorge LI Circ. Blue Comet Enc. Cochleata x Guarechea Mivaetolle Noire “Indigo Blue” Jorge Li Phalaenopsis Jiaho’s Pink Girl “Sweet Fragrance” Schilleriana x Zuma Pixie Jorge Li Return to "Share and Learn" Page

Learning Through Sharing This page is dedicated to showing the plants that members brought from their personal collections to share with others at a monthly meeting. Thereby, club members learn through sharing. Each plant is presented, discussed, admired and appreciated. An added feature of this sharing activity results in members feeling closer to each other, creating an atmosphere of friendship and closeness. August 2023 Vanda [V.] Prapathom Gold x Vanda [V.] Chao Praya Sapphire “Leopard Spot” Dean and Suellen Powell Papilionanda [Pda.] Naoki Kawamura Jorge Li Vanda [V.] Mimi Palmer Alexis Dominguez and Nuria Cid “Not Identified” Betty Alexander “Not Identified” Betty Alexander Return to "Share and Learn" Page

Location Monthly meetings are held at Florida International University, South Campus, WC 130 classroom, next to the Wertheim Conservatory (greenhouse). From Southwest 8 Street, turn south on 109 Avenue. Turn into the "red" parking garage immediately on right (west side of avenue). Park on the north side of the ramp leading up to second floor in the "metered" spaces. The parking meter machine is located on the first floor on the southwest corner next to the elevators. Three hours cost $3.00. If requested, the fee will be reimbursed. Just bring the receipt to the treasurer. The classroom is on the south side, across the street from the parking garage, next to the greenhouse. WC 130 Classroom Classroom Adjacent to Werheim Conservatory FIU South Campus

Local Orchid Clubs Besides EALOC, there are a variety of excellent orchid clubs located in Miami-Dade County. Below are the online links where one may find out more about each organization. Orchid enthusiasts are one family sharing a common love! Please check out our friends' organizations. Asociacion de Orquideologia de America Orchid Society of Coral Gables Coalition for Orchid Species East Everglades Orchid Society North Dade Orchid Club Pan American Orchid Club South Dade Amateur Orchid Club South Florida Orchid Society

Learning Through Sharing This page is dedicated to showing the plants that members brought from their personal collections to share with others at a monthly meeting. Thereby, club members learn through sharing. Each plant is presented, discussed, admired and appreciated. An added feature of this sharing activity results in members feeling closer to each other, creating an atmosphere of friendship and closeness. March 2024 Maxillariella [Mxl.] tenuifolia Jorge Li Oncidium Heaven Scent “Redolence” Jorge Li Phalaenopsis schilleriana Jorge Li Cyrtopodium punctatum “Cowhorn Orchid” Lou and Rene Silva “Not Identified” Eleanor Sanfilippo Return to "Share and Learn" Page

Newsletters 2015 - 2017 The club appreciates your interest! To view past newsletters, click on the year and month. For a free online newsletter subscription, please click at the bottom of this page to send the e-mail address. 2015 Click on the Desired Monthly Edition February January March April May June July August September October November December 2016 Click on the Desired Monthly Edition January February April March May June July August September October November December 2017 Click on the Desired Monthly Edition April March February January May June July August September October November December Free Newsletter Subscription Subscribe Your e-mail address was sent successfully! Archived Newsletters

Interesting, Informational and Useful Websites (Part 6) Below are website links that were selected for being interesting, informational and/or useful for orchid enthusiasts. Readers are encouraged to give feedback, as well as send additional website links to the webmaster. Please go to the "Feedback and About" webpage to offer feedback and other website links. The reader's input is the key to making this page helpful to everyone. Link National Geographic - Search for Ghost Orchid Pollinator These rare, charming orchids were long thought to be pollinated by a single insect: the giant sphinx moth. But now, photographs by Carlton Ward Jr. and Mac Stone show that a couple of moth species other than the giant sphinx visit and carry the ghost orchid’s pollen—and the giant sphinx itself may play a completely different role than previously thought. Link Rare Florida "Night Orchids" Saved by Common Fruits This video explains, for the first time, scientists have used a mix of natural products found locally to propagate the flower. Link TBA Link TBA Link TBA "Interesting , Websites (Part 1)"