Orchid Guild September Meeting

The New Mexico Orchid Guild usually meets at 1:30 PM on the second Sunday of the month at the Albuquerque Garden Center, 10120 Lomas Boulevard Northeast.

Please join us on Sunday, September 10th when we will welcome via Zoom our special guest Arthur E. Chadwick of Chadwick and Sons orchids in Powhatan, VA.

His topic will be: “First Ladies and their Cattleyas: A Century of Namesake Orchids.”

He will explore the 100+ year history of United States First Ladies and the cattleya hybrids that bear their names.

The lineage of these plants provides an overview of the diverse family of cattleya species that exist in nature as well as an inside look at the renowned growers around the world who played a role in creating these enduring legacies.

Included are the fascinating stories of the actual flower presentations, many of which involved the Chadwick’s.

Check out his website chadwickorchids.com

Bring your blooming orchids for show and tell. As always, great plants for sale at great prices and our monthly raffle.

Email orchidsinabq@gmail.com for the zoom link

Bring a friend

Free parking and admission

All are welcome!

August Meeting Announcement

Petal Pushers will have a special guest on August 22, 2023. Joan Karrie, who was the guest speaker at the State’s Garden Convention will give her talk on “Diamonds in the Desert”. It is educational and fun. Refreshments will be served. Location: Albuquerque Garden Center Time: 9:30 am. Guests Welcomed.

Valley Gardeners Spring- Summer Gatherings

At our May meeting we had a wonderful potluck and discussed plans for the future. The food was delicious and the conversation lively, as always. With our quorum we accepted nominations for officers and are excited to announce our officers for 2023-2024:

• Co-Presidents: Donna Baremore and Judy Nickell

• 2nd Vice President: Jennifer Moreno

• Treasurer: Gina Thoma

• Secretary Michael Ann Tart

Officers were installed at the beginning of the June meeting with Mary Ann Moreno officiating.

What better way to begin the summer than filling June and July meetings with tree talks by arborist Bryan Suhr who discussed pruning and tree care. Bryan talked about having a pruning schedule for the tree beginning when it was planted to direct proper growth. He demonstrated correct tree pruning techniques and answered questions.

Bryan followed up in July with more information about tree care for various types of trees Toward the end of the meeting he led us on a tour of the Garden Center Gardens discussing the positives and negatives of different trees as well as pruning strategies for each.

After the June meeting, everyone had time to look at their own gardens and came with questions for Bryan. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to discuss issues we have with trees in our yards and to consider what species we might consider adding.

Valley Gardeners are better informed about care of our trees thanks to Bryan sharing his expertise with us.

Our August meeting will be at Los Griegos Community Center beginning at 6:30 pm. Guests are welcome. In August we will be discussing how to enter the State Fair Flower Show where many of us will also be volunteering.