Presented by Arthur Pinkers

The genus Lycaste are a new world orchids in Central America down into South America that grown in a variety of temperatures and environments.  They come in a variety of colors and sizes.  When blooming, they put on a wonderful display of flowers with some being very fragrant.

Arthur Pinkers has been an orchid enthusiast since the age of sixteen, when he acquired a plant of Slc. Glittering Jewel (Sl. Gratixiae x Slc. Hermes), which infected him with the orchid bug.

His 40 plus years of experience growing orchids started in the Pacific Northwest with a greenhouse to fend off the cold, rainy days. About a decade ago, a job change brought him to sunny Santa Clarita, California, where the conditions for growing orchids are extreme.

Growing up in the Seattle area, Arthur attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology. He worked for many years as a chemist and had the good fortune of having his dream job as the Lab Director for Beall Orchid Company until shortly before its closure in 1990.

Arthur has been an Accredited AOS Orchid Judge for more than 20 years, served in most executive positions on the Board of the Northwest Orchid Society. He is currently the President of the San Fernando Valley Orchid Society.

He was the center photographer for the Pacific Northwest Judging region 1993–2004 and now is the Center Judging Chair at the Pacific South – San Marino Judging Center and serves as one of the photographers for the Pacific South Judging Center. Many of Arthur’s outstanding orchid photographs have been published in Orchids and the Orchid Digest.

Arthur tends to his large collection of orchids under shade cloth. Although he has an interest in a wide variety of orchids, botanicals are a special draw to him for their diversity and charm.

There will be no meeting on Wednesday August 5, 2026. We are traditionally dark for this meeting, Our next meeting will be Wednesday, September 2, 2026. The doors will open at about 6:00 pm. The meeting will start about 7:00 pm. If you have questions, please email Arthur Pinkers@gmail.com. Happy Orchid Growing.

The Los Angeles County Election Board is using the Sepulveda Garden Center the week of November 3 – 7 for the election. The meeting is moved to Monday, November 17, 2025. The doors will open at 6:00 pm and the program will start about 7:00.

Peter T. Lin will be presenting a talk on one of his favorite topics:  Mini-Catts, also known as miniature Cattleyas.  Peter will be sharing a fast-paced Power Point presentation on these charming orchids.  The journey will begin with a review of the miniature species, early hybrids, and then to some of the relevant hybrids of today.  He will also review how to grow these wonderful plants.

Peter started growing orchids over 30 years ago, but then stopped due to school and starting a career.  It wasn’t until about 14 years ago that the orchid “bug” came back and he is now heavily involved once again.  He is an accredited judge with the American Orchid Society and a hybridizer of mini-catts.  He enjoys meeting with other orchid enthusiasts, and can often be found at various orchid shows and societies around the country.  He also has thousands of photos of his orchids that he maintains on Flickr.  You can view them by typing this address into the internet: http://www.flickr.com/photos/minicatt/collections/

His website: www.diamondorchids.com

Due to limited growing space, Peter likes to specialize in miniature orchids, both species and hybrids, and has received numerous AOS awards.  His other interests in orchids include Dendrobiums, Angraecoids, and Neofinetias.  He maintains a collection of a thousand or more orchids at his home in Southern California in 3 small greenhouses, as well as in the house under fluorescent lights.

Peter will be taking pre-orders for plants that he will bring to the meeting.  There will be a 10% discount for pre-orders.  Members can view his catalog on his website: www.diamondorchids.com and can order by phone: 909-573-6751 or email: lin.peterT@yahoo.com

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, June 4, 2005.  The doors will open at 6:00 pm.  The meeting will start at 7:00 pm.  I hope to see you all there. 

We are very pleased to announce that George Hatfield will be speaking to us on Cymbidiums.  George is a premier hybridizer of pendulous Cymbidiums and is known around the world.  He has been working on heat tolerant Cymbidiums that can grow in our climate with out special environments.  He has earned many awards from the American Orchid Society and from the Cymbidium Society of America when it was granting awards.  Many customers have purchased orchids and receive awards.  He has spoken around the world and currently is the President of the World Orchid Congress.  In addition, he has served on numerous Boards of Directors of orchid related organizations.  He has supported our society with donations that have helped to fund our Societies programs.  He has written numerous articles for various orchid magazines and periodicals and spoken at many societies and conferences around the world.  He has served as the president of the American Orchid Society, the Chairman of the Pacific South Judging Center and been an Judge at several certified levels since 2000.

George has been growing orchids for over 30 years.  He started Hatfield Orchids in 2005.  We are very fortunate to have such a distinguished orchid grower, Judge and speaker come to share his passion with us.

Our April Meeting will be focusing on Culture and Orchid Problems We encourage you to bring orchids that you want advice on to the meeting we can look at them and provide you with suggestions about how to grow them better. We will have materials to for potting orchids along with showing how to virus test and provide you with various cultural tips. We will also have our plant forum where we share orchids that we have in bloom and a bit on how we grow them.

We will not be meeting Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at the Sepulveda Garden Center, Instead, We will meet in Santa Barbara, CA at 9:00 am to install our exhibit at the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show at the Erl Warren Fair Grounds Exhibit Hall. The show will be open to the public Friday March 7, through Sunday March 9, 2025 from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. I hope you will join us at the show and say hello. A couple of us will be near our exhibit to help out and answer questions.

We will resume our normal meetings at the Sepulveda Garden Center April 2, 2025. The doors open at 6:00 pm and we will begin the meeting about 7:00 pm.

Annual Winter Holiday Party and Pot Luck

Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 6:00 pm – 9:00PM

Admission:  A main Course, Side Dish, Salad or Dessert

What:  Great food, Gift Exchange, Bingo and more

Gift exchange suggestion is an orchid related item of about $15.00

Please R.S.V.P by November 29, 2024 – Arthur Pinkers (arthur.pinkers@gmail.com) Please let me know how many are coming, how many members are in the party, and what you are bringing for the pot luck.

Non members are welcome to attend, please R.S.V.P. Questions are also welcome.

Because of the Election, the November meeting date has been changed to Friday, November 8, 2024. Doors will open at 6:00 pm at the Sepulveda Garden Center.

Or main topic will be: Dendrobium biggibum, it’s culture and related species. Dendrobium biggibum is a wonderful species from the Queensland Australia and New Guinea, it is part of the section Phalaenanthe.  It’s culture is great for our home conditions. Come and find out about this wonderful species and it’s relatives. If you have questions, please email Arthur Pinkers at arthur.pinkers@gmail.com. We look forward to your joining us.

The society takes a break from monthly meetings in August.

Our new fiscal year has started, membership dues are now accepted. Please contact Ramona Jordon-Durham rjdurham146@gmail.com to get the membership form and specific information related to membership.