Last month of Spring

Middle of Spring

Spring is Sprung!!

Last Month of Winter

Mid Winter

Winter is here

Getting Cooler

Well,another Autumn Show has come and gone and I have to say it was a veritable roller coaster ride from start to finish, even though a portion of it was nearly under water. But what's done is done and I thought a large portion of the show went off quite well-visitor wise that is.

Interesting past few days andI found it difficult to fault the Weather Bureau, difficult but not impossible, for their predictions. Shame the only thing predictable about cyclones is their unpredictability. I do hope the people affected get help soon to get back on their feet ASAP.

Time is tripping by and the Show is getting closer.Help is always needed and the response has always been good, however time is starting to make itself felt and a couple of stalwarts have unfortunately made it known that it’s time for them to wind it back a bit.

This Saturday is the last interested/new growers meeting for the year and the attendance so far has been good and the participation has been terrific so let’s try and keep that momentum up.

I have been very pleased with the response to the new growers/interested grower’s meetings at my place.It's great to see quite a few people turn up at each one. The exchange of ideas and information is crucial for us all and it works very well.

Anyway, it’s the busy time of the year with me frantically trying to re-pot the orchids.I actually got off my ‘you know what’ and I'm getting into it-before it’s too late. You can only postpone doing the repotting for just so long I suppose. But on with the good stuff: the Sausage Sizzle and the amazing help with it.

Once again it seemed to be well received by the good number of people that gave many congratulatory comments over the end result. It was great to see another great effort by so many of our members coming in with their plants for the display.

While the cool to cold weather will linger for a while, I hope that the onset of August will be the beginning of the end. I still believe that this, and the past several winters, have been particularly cold, at least as far as we are concerned anyway, but that's life.

Well, it’s been a while since we've had this much rain in Winter and although it hasn't been heavy around here, it's mostly steady. Don't mind the Winter rain, as such, but it would be nice to have a dry yard for a change.

Well, we've just had our Interested growers meeting again and the attendance was quite good. I know I've said this before but it's so good to see everyone really begin to come ahead with their confidence and their knowledge with growing orchids.

Well, there's a little bit of breathing space now, until the next round of Shows kick off that is. Please remember that while it's technically entering the 'slow' part of the year for orchids there is always something to do. Now might be a good time to have a stock take of what you have and what you may need for next Spring, when the work kicks off again.

Once again it was fantastic to see so many of our fellow orchid growers from across the Sunshine Coast to bring along so many orchids and foliage plants to our Show. The range and quality of all the plants on Show was very positively commented on by all our visitors.

I noticed while I was fertilising the other day how good most of my plants were looking. Yes, that's right! Most, not all, but anyway, most were looking quite good, nice big bulbs, well developed new growth and a few flower sheaths so it’s going to be interesting how many actual flowers I get, resulting from all the hard work that was put into them this Spring and Summer.

Well, I hope you’re better at it than I am. I've known a lot of hot Summers but it seems to me this one has been quite severe. But that's life and that's the way things are. Between the heat, humidity, and the rain the orchids are, if I say so myself, not looking too bad. This morning, I managed to fertilise the orchids and they looked like they might have enjoyed it.

Firstly, thanks to everyone who has sent their best wishes to me and the family at this sad time. Your very kind thoughts and, for those who could attend Mum's service, was very much appreciated. Thank You very much.

I know that some people are going through a very rough trot at the moment so our thoughts and good wishes are with you at this time. I have sympathy for those of us who are having a little difficulty in finishing off the repotting. Personally, I'd be happy if I could get a decent start to it.

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The Interested growers meeting has not long been finished and as per usual went over quite well with a good number of people turning up to listen to my little talk about what to do at this time of the year.

Our Shows continue to do well and provide us with the necessary funds to run the Society. We have been very fortunate to have picked up a great group of members who are proving to be most valuable in their eagerness to both help and learn about growing orchids.

Well even though we've passed the winter solstice it's usually in July that we really start getting the low temperatures. Not looking forward to that. I used to view Winter as a time where you can't really do all that much. WRONG! It's now very much a time when I make sure that I try at least to do the jobs I put off when I was busy re-potting, fertilising and the rest of it.

Winter came a bit early for the Society last week-end with the seasonal new growers meeting taking place with a very good number of new growers and a couple of very good people to help out and to keep me in line and on track.

Yes, there is a lot to be grateful for in the cooler months of the year but it’s important to remember to keep an eye on that calendar because time moves quickly and we should be preparing for the next growing season. If only I practiced what I preach. Oh well.

Well, another show is over and I can say with a lot of satisfaction, and quite a bit of relief, that it was a resounding success. At this point I must give a huge thanks to our fellow Societies’ members for bringing along to our Show a huge and magnificent collection of flowering orchids. That really filled the tables to the brim and in at least a couple of classes, some adjustments had to be made to fit them on other tables to make room.

Not as hot as what I thought it would be which is good for us and maybe so-so for the plants. Not a long hot Summer by any means but the heat sure did hit towards the end of it. Would have preferred a more consistent weather pattern but I suppose what we had was alright. Especially when you can't do anything about it.

Hope you’re feeling better Graeme. Well, it was great seeing everyone back from the break looking well and feeling pretty good and talkative. Which is always good to see after the extended break. We are indeed off and running for the year with Sausage Sizzle on 25 March.

As you would know by now, the interested grower’s group has been postponed for a fortnight – now on 17th December - and hopefully you can all make it, seeing it’s a bit closer to Christmas. Well, I have to say our Christmas party went over very well again this year. As in previous years the efforts of a handful of members ensures that the celebrations are as well organised as they are appreciated.

Well, we had our Shadehouse Social at Kay Jorgensen’s place on Saturday and I have to say what a great looking property it is. I gave a talk again and I do think that we really need more speakers. Maybe the fact that I looked - and sort of - felt like a second-hand pirate with a tissue stuck under a pair of dark glasses covering up my left eye. (A leftover of the cataract operation I had on Thursday).

Phew! What a busy last few weeks we've just had. Judging at our fellow societies Shows, our Show at Pelican Waters, the interested growers talk, meetings etc, etc. Makes life interesting for sure. But anyway, if not for all that and more I know I'd be doing not much at all and be bored to tears.

I've just noticed that my spelling has become worse. You can't see it because Mary always checks my report. God bless her. Well Spring has finally arrived which means, I hope, warm weather and lots of Shows.

To begin with our growing number of members, who are certainly enthusiastic about the Society and learning how to grow orchids, is great to see. Not only that, but the number of more recent members have found their feet, so to speak, and are now becoming involved in the Society in a range of activities. All of you are just the members we needed. Willing to learn and help where you can.

Well, another month has slipped by and the Orchid Shows will be coming fast - one after the other. It will be good to see what's going to be out and on display.

Well, we had our interested growers’ group last Saturday and it was great to see quite a good number turn up and participate, and contribute, the way they did. It's all good for the Society when people can get involved. Fortunately, some members brought along their plants for advice and I was mostly able to give some answers on how to treat them. I did say mostly.

Usually, I don't mind the rain but this is getting ridiculous. I hope the plants are liking it because I think they’re the only ones who do. At least I don't have to worry about watering them for a while anyway.

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Last month of Winter