May 2021 Newsletter Link
Please submit your Orchid Show & Tell pictures to Lynne by Monday May 3rd: lynne.murrell@outlook.com

    RSVP to the May 4th Meeting

This month's speaker is:
Taras (Terry) Kowalczuk
Taras (Terry) Kowalczuk is not only a landscaper with a keen interest in miniature orchids and other “peculiar plants” from all around the world, but also runs a boutique plant business in Toronto (called FLORA PECULIA) and is a music graduate from the University of Toronto in Orchestral conducting.
He has been growing plants since the age of 6, and over the years has become more focused on growing and collecting Neofinetia falcata varieties as well as other Japanese orchids.
His passion for Neofinetia falcata (fuukiran) has inspired Terry to travel frequently to Japan, and also afforded him the opportunity to take trips as a guest speaker from Cape Cod to California and across his native Canada. Terry was also a speaker at the 22nd World Orchid Conference in Ecuador in 2017. Terry will speak to SFOS about many aspects of Neofinetia falcata (fuukiran) – not only the major varieties and their care in cultivation, but also provide some context of their use in traditional Japanese ”engei”  (gardening), as well as introduce us to the Japanese approach to judging these plants.
7:00 PM
Announcements & 2021 SFOS ELECTIONS

7:20 PM
Terry Kowalczuk's talk on "Neofinetias"​​​​ followed by

8:15 PM
Show & Tell
followed by the "Opportunity Table" - chance to win $20 gift certificates to redeem for orchids from Tiny Jungle in Daly City

MORE:
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Show & Tell:
Everyone is encouraged as always to share orchids they have in bloom with the group - though you can try doing it spontaneously with your smartphone/pad camera or computer camera in real time, it works best for us if you take pictures to share ahead of time.
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Please send your Show and Tell pics to Lynne by email (lynne.murrell@outlook.com) by NO LATER THAN the day before the meeting to give her time to prepare.
​If you have trouble email the picture files you can also upload the pictures directly to our Google Photos Album - but still need to let Lynne know you did so!

Additional How & Tell Guidance:
You can help Lynne optimize the show and tell experience by selecting your top 3 plants to share so we have time to get to everyone’s contributions - label your photo files – or include the names for her to do it for you – and particularly for miniatures, try to include one picture of the flower and one of the plant including a coin or ruler or hand in one of them to help us judge the size.

How do you win an opportunity plant?
Names of all attendees that are paid members of SFOS will have their name included once in the raffle ticket pool to be drawn at the end of the meeting.

1) You must be in attendance at the meeting.
2) You must be a paid member of SFOS - so pay your 2021 dues if you have not done so already

NOTE: You can have your name included in the raffle ticket pool more than once, IF:
You RSVP by calendar or email by noon on the day of the meeting
OR
You participate in Show & Tell by sending photos or video clips in advance by email as outlined above
OR
Prepare and give a brief talk (5-15 min) - any orchid related topic of your choice - but these need to be confirmed in advance - so please let me know if you want to do one at an upcoming meeting.