San Francisco Orchid Society
SFOS is a California non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation
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Gustavo A. Aquirre Pleurothallids Tuesday, March 3rd @ 7:00 PM
Gustavo has been growing and collecting Colombian orchids more than 45 years. His orchid company, Orquídeas Katía, sells colombian species of the generas Cattleya, Pleurothallidinae, Chondrorhyncha complex, Miltoniopsis, Maxillaria, hybrid Miltoniopsis and others. He is an Honorary member, Board of Directors, ex editor and member of the editorial committee of the Colombian Orchid Society (SCO) in Medellín (Colombia). He has collaborated and provided photographs for various Orchid publications such as Orquideas de Colombia (Orchids of Colombia).
Next Meeting: 7:00pm Tuesday, Mar 3rd, 2026 at San Francisco County Fair Building (Hall of Flowers) in the Rec Room AND virtual meeting via Zoom (id: 2093634933 password: SFOS2026) See page 3 for details Show & Tell submissions: Send show and tell pics by Monday March 2nd 8 pm to: info@orchidsanfrancisco.org Welcome New and Returing Members: Elizabeth Amador, Doug Blakely, Michael Byun, Mili Jeon, Alli Kruger, Sergei Tavasieff, Allison Tompkins Speaker Dinner: If you want to attend the speaker dinner before our monthly meetings, please email peter@orchidsanfrancisco.org by the Friday before our monthly meetings Interested in joining SFOS Board for 2026-2027?: Take a more active part in the running of our society. No experience necessary. Elections will be at May meeting. See page 9 and contact Jeff for more information Monthly AOS judgings: Pac Central JC on the 1st Tuesday night (7pm at SFOS meeting) and on the 3rd Sat morning each month (10am at Filoli Gardens in Woodside); info? contact Sylvia Darr syldarr@gmail.com CA Sierra Nevada JC (CSNJC) judging: 1st Wednesdays at SCOS monthly meetings at Odd Fellows Hall, 1831 Howe Ave, Sacramento. AND on the 3rd Sundays in Lincoln, CA: 8:30 am at Dueling Dogs Brewing Company, 3030 Barrett Park Lane, Lincoln CA. Contact: Lynne Murrell, lynne.murrell@outlook.com Next Board Meeting: Next meeting scheduled for Monday, March 9th 2025. Interested in being more involved with SFOS? Sign up to volunteer! contact: info@orchidsanfrancisco.org On Instagram? Share your IG handles here to be tagged on show and tell photos posted on IG
In-person attendees will have a chance to win plants for the opportunity table raffle! Get a free raffle ticket if you bring food to share at the meeting or a plant for show and tell!
For over 70 years the SFOS mission has been to foster the culture and conservation of orchids and to promote education of its members and the public about orchids. Our goals include: an exchange of information from exhibitions, publications, and the Internet, maintenance of a reference library, and participation in worldwide activities.
At the corner of 9th and Lincoln, next to the SF Botanical Garden
1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
Hengduan Biotechnology USA LLC is seeking assistance with our limited orchid exports to China. The work involves transporting orchids to the phytosanitary inspection site, picking up required paperwork from the Agriculture office, and preparing the orchids for export, including packing, delivery to the logistics company, and ensuring all documents are in order. We expect this to occur 2–3 times per year, with each export requiring 2–4 days of work. We offer an hourly wage plus reimbursement for expenses such as gas, mileage, tolls, and occasional meals. Contact: Mary Gerritsen meg570@comcast.net
Golden Gate Park
Opportunity Table Want to win orchids? In-person attendees will continue to have many opportunities at the monthly meetings to win some great plants to add to their collection - but you have to be there to win!
Feb 26 - Mar 1, 2026 SF County Fair Building
24th World Orchid Confernce
73rd Annual Pacific Orchid Exposition
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Wild About Orchids: SCOS Show & Sale
In-person meetings at the Hall of Flowers Join us in-person for meetings at the SF County Fair Building (Hall of Flowers), Rec Room, in Golden Gate Park.
Help Wanted
March 26-29, 2026 Dresden, Germany
In Memorium Maynard C. Michel
photo: Independent News
Tips for the Virtual Meeting on Zoom We will continue hosting our meetings in a "hybrid" format using Zoom to maintain access for those who prefer the virtual format. Everyone is encouraged to either use the weblink or download the Zoom app ahead of the meeting to be able to better see and share the video content. For the virtual show and tell, send pics ahead of time to share - email to info@orchidsanfrancisco.org (by no later than the day before the meeting, though sooner is of course better to give Heidi & Kay more time to prepare)! The link to join the meeting is: https://zoom.us/j/2093634933 Zoom password: SFOS2026. Sometimes your PC may not have a microphone and in that case you can still use the computer and monitor and call in on the phone with the phone number - but make sure to turn off the computer speakers to avoid static feedback. We will also continue to record the meetings and post them on our Members Only website via our YouTube Channel - so if you miss a meeting or just want to go back and see it again - it is there - check it out!
Helen V. Michel would like to inform you that Maynard C. Michel, long time member of SF Orchid Society and orchid judge, has passed away. Family and friends will deeply mourn his passing this year. He was 6 months shy of 99 years old, a real marvel. View Maynard's obituary here
March 28-29, 2026 Veterans Bldg, Santa Rosa
There is plenty of free parking on the street, inside the park, and and from the back parking lot, accessible from Lincoln Ave across from 10th Ave. Enter the building from the front lobby or back parking lot. To protect one another, please be prudent and stay away if you're feeling ill. Please bring your plants for the in-person Show and Tell!
POE 2026 Tickets now available on Eventbrite
Orchid Obscura: 73rd Pacific Orchid Exposition - Feb 26-Mar 1, 2026 ADMISSION TICKET PRICES: Preview Night (Thurs - Adults Only)(includes weekend pass) $75.00 and Senior / Adult Student Preview + Weekend $60.00 (same price at the door as advance; no advance discount Gala tickets) Weekend Pass (Fri-Sun) excluding Thursday Preview Night ($12 in advance; $15 at the door) Senior / Student Weekend Pass (Fri - Sun) ($8 advance; $10 at the door) 20% advance ticket discount ends on Friday Feb 20, 2026 *All members can enter their email address on Eventbrite as a unique promo code to buy one SFOS member “weekend pass” Fri - Sun for only $5 (Note you will have to remove the default 20% promo code and check out / purchase these $5 tickets separately on Eventbrite) SUNDAY ONLY General Admission (available starting Saturday Feb 28) $10.00 Sunday Only Senior / Student Discounted $5.00 Children 12 and under are free (Friday-Sunday) with a paid adult chaperone
2026 POE Exhibitor Rules and Awards
Are you preparing your blooming orchids for display in the SFOS POE 2026 Exhibit? Bring them on Wed Feb 25 10am -6pm to the SF County Fair Building auditorium
All current SFOS Members have the option to sell plants and plant related items at our events, and POE 2026 is right around the corner. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR with these dates & LET JEFF HARRIS KNOW if you intend to sell at the live POE 2026 member plant sale (MPS). Sale plants & plant related items sold will need to come into the venue on Weds Feb 25 or the morning of Thursday Feb 26; sellers should sign up to volunteer a shift to help with MPS. Deadline for live MPS price lists to Yujin is Tuesday Feb 24 at 8pm, so she has time to print the barcode stickers and have them ready to put on your plants on Weds at the venue. The online presale is live NOW will end on Saturday Feb 21.
If you volunteer, you will get a badge that gives you unlimited entry to the show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!!!
Please read and review the rules and award categories if you are planning to show your plants during POE 2026. 2026 Exhibitor Rules and Award information
Sign up to volunteer at POE!
POE 2026 Help Needed
Can you make your favorite cookies to share with volunteers at POE 2026 (and bring them in on Weds Feb 25 - Sun Mar 1)? Phyllis Deets (pdeets@gmail.com) is organizing it and we need lots of bakers to help feed our volunteers.
Please use the advance plant entry process and let us know approximately what time you plan to show up with your plants, so we can be ready to help you. DO NOT plan to show up last minute as we are locking up for the evening. As in the past few years, all plants for ribbon/trophy entries will need to be registered in our online system. Click this link to the online POE Plant Entry Form for entering plants in advance of the show. You may also use the POE 2026 plant entry spreadsheet listing all the same information and send to Paul Kasemsap with "interested in POE26 plant entry" in the subject line - please include your name, contact info and "Exhibitor Category:" Novice (Exhibitor that has won < 6 trophies/awards at any AOS sanctioned show) Advanced (Exhibitor that has won 7 or more trophies/awards and is not a commercial exhibitor) Commercial See the 2026 POE Exhibitor Rules & Awards link in box below Note parking in the back parking lot and even across the street on MLK Dr is quite limited and reserved for folks actively volunteering and working the event - even for handicap spots - so prepare to carpool, move your car up to Stow Lake Dr after unloading plants for the display, and/or use public transit or ride services.
SFOS 2026 Board Nomination Slate
2026-2027 Non-elected Board members: Show Co-Chairs: Jeff Harris / Carm Kuivenhoven Membership Co-Chairs: Heidi Arno, Doug Hunter & Mary Blackburn Newsletter Editor: Rhiannon Croci
2026-2027 Officers President: Stuart Menaker Vice-President: Open position Secretary: Open position Treasurer/CFO: Yujin Kim 2026-2027 Directors: Alan Yip Sharon Palmisano Rhiannon Croci Open position
At the start of the May General Members meeting, we will elect the new 2026-2027 SFOS Board - including the 4 officers (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer/CFO) and 4 Directors. To make an advanced nomination or inquiry for a role on the Board, please contact Jeff Harris Slate of Board Candidates as of January 19, 2026 (biographies for continuing members are hyperlinked to their names.
Join Now!
Dave Hermeyer Laelia anceps Mini Harry Plan B
Dave Hermeyer Laelia Mt. Carmel x HQ Supreme
Jeff Harris Coelogyne Unchained Melody Sasha
Yolanda Huang Masdevallia no id
Dave Hermeyer LC Black Forest Dark Splendor
Jeff Harris Habenaria regneieri (Flamingo) Rubenesque AM AOS
February 2026 Show and Tell
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Board meeting called to order: 7:07 pm Attendance:(absent board members in parentheses) Derreck Carter-House, Peter Chianchiano, Yujin Kim, Carm Kuivenhoven, Alan Yip, Sharon Palmisano, Geoff Harris, Rhiannon Croci, (Heidi Arno), Jeff Harris Non-Board Members in Attendance: Keith Robinson, Cyril Santilliano, Paul Kasemsap, (Dave Hermeyer), Approval of Minutes of January 12, 2026 BOD Meeting January 12, 2026 - Final Minutes Derreck Moved, Rhiannon Seconds, unanimously approved. Officer’s Reports President's update: Derreck DRAFT 2026-2027 BOARD NOMINATION SLATE as of Feb 9, 2026 2026-2027 Officers: President: Stuart Menaker Vice-President: Open position (Jeff Harris as backup) Secretary: Open position Treasurer/CFO: Yujin Kim 2026-2027 Directors: Alan Yip Sharon Palmisano Rhiannon Croci Open position(s) (Keith Robinson & Miguel Padilla) 2026-2027 Non-elected Board members: Past President: Derreck Carter-House Show Co-Chairs: Jeff Harris / Carm Kuivenhoven Membership Co-Chairs: Heidi Arno, Doug Hunter & Mary Blackburn Newsletter Editor: Rhiannon Croci Treasurer’s report: Yujin Jan 2026 finance report budget review. Derreck moved to approve the finance report; Geoff seconds, and motion unanimously approved. VP’s update: Peter Fill out an application to add March, May and August member meetings in the Auditorium. Added Auditorium for May, but not available for March, possibly not for August. Speaker schedule Year Month Day of meeting Confirmed? Speaker Topic 2026 December 1 Confirmed Holiday Party N/A 2026 November 3 Confirmed Phillip Hamilton Oncidiums 2026 October 6 Confirmed Thanh Nguyen Paphiopedilums 2026 September 1 Confirmed Sevan Suni Orchid Bees/pollinators 2026 August 4 Confirmed Tim Culbertson holcoglossum? 2026 July 7 Confirmed Derreck or Peter Zootrophion Phylognetics 2026 June 2 Confirmed Erica Hannickel ?? 2026 May 5 TBD Skills Workshop 2026 April 7 Greg Lum Workshop on Floral Design 2026 March 3 Confirmed Gustavo A AguirrePleurothallids Membership Chair update: Heidi 79 members and guests in the room for the February Meeting and 23 people on Zoom; New members since January meeting: Elizabeth Amador, Doug Blakely, Michael Byun, Mili Jeon, Alli Kruger, Sergei Tavasieff, Allison Tompkins Newsletter editor update: Rhiannon. All newsletter content due by the 15th of each month. Pre-POE newsletter details Post POE Need President’s message Need Help for April Newsletter - Jeff H. will help. Place ad for Sturdi-Built greenhouses in Portland in our SFOS newsletter, meeting announcements, etc for a 6-12 month trial period to see if any referral occur; offering $250 each to buyer and as donation to SFOS. (Jeff) Other Announcements: Old Business: SF CFB sound system evaluation / upgrades completed & paid $1700 to Andrew Roth of Roth Audio Design. Nomination Committee - assemble next year’s officer slate before board member election on May Members’ Meeting: New Business: Proposed to specifically increase our yearly in kind donation this fiscal year to SF Conservatory of Flowers (CoF) from $1500 to $3,000 worth of orchids from the Orchid shows. (Jeff) [Derreck moved to approve and Sharon seconded, unanimously approved] Awaiting a specific proposal to increase our yearly donation budget more generally (to CCSF EH&F program or other educational programs, to OCA or other conservation programs, and to SF CoF / GGGP or other local gardens, orchid society programs) to achieve <$5000 net profit per fiscal year going forward. Jeff will create a sub committee to help with creating the budget proposal. The Board needs the budget proposal by May 2026. Agreed to place ad for Sturdi-Built greenhouses in Portland in our SFOS newsletter, meeting announcements, etc for a 6-12 month trial period to see if any referral occur; offering $250 each to buyer and as donation to SFOS. (Jeff) Public Comment: n/a Next Combo Board & Show Committee Meeting: Monday - March 9th at 7:00 pm on Zoom - Next month on zoom. Meeting transitioned from Board to Show Committee at (7:56 PM)Respectfully submitted by Carmi Kuivenhoven
SFOS Board Meeting Minutes - February 9th Meeting
Board Minutes, Continued from page 14
Board Minutes, Continued from page 15
Month
Day
Speaker
Topic
March 2026
3
Gustavo A. Aguirre
Pleurothallids
April 2026
7
Greg Lum
Floral Design
May 2026
5
N/A
Skills Workshop
June 2026
2
Erica Hannickle
TBD
July 2026
Derreck or Peter
Zootrophion phylogenics
August 2026
4
Tim Culbertson
Holcoglossum
September 2026
1
Sevan Suni
Orchid bees/pollinators
October 2026
6
Thanh Nguyen
Paphiopedilums
November 2026
Phillip Hamilton
Oncidiums
December 2026
HOLIDAY PARTY
SFOS 2026 Speaker Schedule
Members of Orchid Digest get $100 off OCA EcoTours at the time of registration
OCA Orchids in the Wild Ecotours for 2025-2026 Orchids of the Gargano Peninsula: April 13-20, 2026 Once again we will join forces with our European partner, Jon Dunn of Mariposa Tours. Springtime in the Gargano Peninsula is wonderful, and this adventure won’t disappoint. Enjoy the scenery, orchids and magnificent wildflowers! Learn More Orchids of the Rio Negro: May 22-June 2, 2026 Enjoy a fascinating Journey into the jungles of the flooded Amazon. One of our most popular tours, this is the only way to view the orchids of the Amazon, on a cruise aboard the Otter, a specially designed riverboat. Learn More Orchids of Northern Yunnan: June 14-28, 2026 Travel with the Orchid Conservation Alliance to the incredibly biodiverse province of Yunnan. Well known for its plant diversity, Yunnan alone has over 400 different orchid species, many endemic to the region. Our trip focuses on the Cypripediums, but we will also are likely see species of Cephalanthera, Dendrobium, Holcoglossum, Liparis, Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis, Platanthera and Pleione. The trip features incredible scenery, the old town of Lijiang, many different species of flowering rhododendrons, as well as paeonies and too many alpine flowers to count. Learn More Orchids of Colombia: July 22-August 6, 2026 Join the Orchid Conservation Alliance as we travel to one of the most spectacularly biodiverse places on earth, the Andean forests of Colombia. We will have a chance to explore the incredibly rich orchid flora of northern Colombia, visit orchid and bird reserves, tour orchid nurseries and private orchid collections, and attend a world-renowned orchid show in the beautiful city of Medellín. Learn More Orchids of Nepal-A Fall Tour of the Orchid Trail: November 9-17, 2026 Designed especially for orchid enthusiasts and nature lovers, the itinerary highlights epiphytic, terrestrial, and lithophytic orchids across varied habitats, while also providing opportunities to engage with traditional villages, sacred sites, protected areas, and panoramic Himalayan vistas. This tour immediately precedes the V International Orchid Symposium in Kathmandu. https://www.ishs.org/symposium/815 Learn More Chitwan National Park: November 21-24, 2026 This tour, which is primarily wildlife focuses, visits the wonderful Chitwan National Park. This park is famous for its one-horned rhinos, elephants, tigers, mugger crocodiles, numerous bird species, and other Nepalese wildlife. The ancient trees in this park are covered with orchids, so there should be something for everyone. This was planned as a post-tour option of the V International Orchid Symposium in Kathmandu. Learn More
Interested in building an orchid carousel? Check out Dexter's video on Building OrchidCarousels to better grow and display your orchids
SFOS Membership Roster now available Find it in the members only portion of the SFOS website (requires log in with email & password) What’s there? Names of all are listed and for those who opted in, it also includes email, phone number, and location. Please look at your entry and confirm it is the way you want it. Note that “by accepting and opening this SFOS Roster file, all agree to use it for personal contact only, and NOT share it with others outside SFOS or for any commercial / advertising purposes.” Questions? Please email Heidi at: membership@orchidsanfrancisco.org
All fields searchable in each entry … Name (Genus species / grex, awards) Have / Died / Want - Location / Division / Donated? Purchase date, source, price? Plant & flower description, potted / mounted, Fragrance? Growing conditions? Pictures of plant & flower Last bloom date / month? Virus test date and results? Free text field for other notes & reference websites
How do you track your orchid / plant collection? Tried Airtable? Works on all platforms. Free version Link to Jeff’s orchid collection template: https://airtable.com/invite/r/MNzzN8nV
You can help... The San Francisco Orchid Society joins other orchid societies and businesses participating in the 1% FOC campaign by committing to budget 1% or more of our net revenue towards orchid conservation projects. For more information: orchidconservationcoalition.org
Have you joined Orchid Digest yet? As a member of Orchid Digest you not only get a quarterly magazine with amazing high-quality pictures of flowers and plants, but also access to so much more great new and historical content for a reasonable price – while also helping support other orchid conservation and educational programs. Check out the magazine for yourself or as a gift - SCAN THE QR code below with your phone camera to see the website https://orchiddigest.com/
Members of OrchidDigestget $100 off OCA EcoTours at the time of registration
Images: Copyright 2022 Orchid Conservation Alliance
1 year subscription (4 issues) $39.00
Donate to SFOS Unrestricted Support to our efforts in general or more specifically in EDUCATION and/or CONSERVATION
Join us as a member via the website www.orchidsanfrancisco.org If you are not sure about your dues status, check your email history or just ask! Automated SFOS Membership Dues renewal bills for those who paid online via the website will go out before the 12 month anniversary date. If you want help with this process we can assist you - email us at membership@orchidsanfrancisco.org If you cannot use the online process, you can still mail a check along with your updated contact information to: SFOS Membership PO Box 27145 SF, CA 94127-0145
A Bay Area Guide to Orchids and their Culture This richly illustrated book is tailored specially to the needs of the San Francisco Bay Area Orchid grower, offering detailed orchid culture information along with recommendations of orchids to grow indoors, in cool to warm-intermediate greenhouses or outdoors, with microclimate-specific suggestions for those choosing to grow outdoors. Note that SFOS paid for the cost of printing and SFOS gets 100% of the profits. Written by: SFOS member Mary E. Gerritsen Available directly from the San Francisco Orchid Society for only $20 at: https://www.orchidsanfrancisco.org/ shop.html
Annual Dues* $25: Standard Membership (includes opportunity table access and email newsletters to one person) $40: Household membership (2 or more people) $75: Supporting Membership (includes 2 POE weekend passes*, opportunity table access plus email newsletters) $150: SFOS Patron Membership (includes 4 POE weekend passes*, opportunity table access, email newsletters, one copy of A Bay Area Guide to Orchids and their Culture) $500: SFOS Benefactor Membership (includes a mention in one of the newsletters, as well as all items in the Patron level - donation value of $350 $1,000: SFOS Orchid Circle (includes everything in the Benefactor level as well as a donation towards SFOS conservation and education funds with a donation value of $850 *We can provide a donation acknowledgement letter in lieu of POE tickets. As a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, SFOS Memberships. Donations can be claimed as tax deductible, but please consult your tax professional.
Dues Renewal You will get an email when it's time to pay
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Current SFOS Contacts President: Derreck Carter-House (derreck@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Vice President: Peter Chianchiano (peter@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Secretary: Carmi Kuivenhoven (carm@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Treasurer (CFO): Yujin Kim (CFO@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Directors: Rhiannon Croci (newsletter@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Geoff Harris (geoffsharris@gmail.com) Sharon Palmisano (Sharonsplantythings@gmail.com) Alan Yip (ritesofantiquity@gmail.com) Past President: Jeff Harris (jeff@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Membership Chair: Heidi Arno (membership@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Newsletter Editor: Rhiannon Croci (newsletter@orchidsanfrancisco.org) AOS Representative: Lynne Murrell (lynne.murrell@outlook.com) Orchid Digest Representative: Jeff Harris (jeff@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Webmaster: John Rushworth (johnrush@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Show Co-Chairs: Carmi Kuivenhoven (carm@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Jeff Harris (jeff@orchidsanfrancisco.org) Information on open positions and General Inquiries at: (info@orchidsanfrancisco.org)
SFOS Website SFOS - www.orchidsanfrancisco.org
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