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*** MEETING DATE - THIRD SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH ***

Society meetings are held on the THIRD sunday of each month between September and May - make a note in your calendar.
Please click here for details of the meetings, and please click here for this season's program of speakers.

Meetings are open to members, guests and non-members and everyone is welcome. However, to help defray society costs we will be requesting non-members to pay a small admission fee of $5.00 per meeting starting from April 2008. Of course, admission to all monthly meetings (nine per year) is included with membership, currently only $25 per year.

NEWSLETTER

Spike, the monthly Society newsletter, is available to all members and to affiliated societies across Canada. This provides monthly communication on Society activities and a wide variety of orchid-related topics. Information is included on bulk purchases, national and international orders, and on significant orchid society activities outside of Ottawa.

Starting with the September 2007 edition, the newsletter is available on line. Please click here to read on screen or download for printing. For convenience, the files are in Acrobat (.PDF) format.

*** Please click here to see what has recently been added to the website ***

The Ottawa Orchid Society (OOS) was founded in 1978 to promote and assist in every way the knowledge, appreciation, culture, study, development, improvement and conservation of orchids. Members come from all walks of life.

Over the years, many have become expert growers and constitute a rich resource, sharing their knowledge and experience. The Ottawa Orchid Society is affiliated with Canadian Orchid Congress (COC) and with the American Orchid Society (AOS). Through these affiliations, the Society is able to obtain accredited AOS judges for the annual show in Ottawa and world-class speakers for regular meetings.

A Board of Directors manages the affairs of the Society with elections held every two years. To see the Society's Constitution click here.

The first Ottawa Orchid Society plant to receive an AOS award was in May, 1979. Please click here for a complete history of the Ottawa Orchid Society.

ORCHID GROWING WORKSHOPS

On a regular basis, the Ottawa Orchid Society partners with other local organisations to offer orchid growing workshops. Workshops are available on a variety of orchid-related topics, from Orchids 101 (a true beginner's course) to An Orchid Safari (an exploration of the exotic beauties, the less than usual and the true oddities that make up the orchid family). These workshops can also be tailored to any audience.

If you would like to organize an orchid growing workshop, please contact our Program Chair, Julie Mertens, at julie_mertens@videotron.ca.

ANNUAL SHOW

Our annual orchid show is the major event of the year. Each spring, members, visiting societies and participating vendors present magnificent displays of their prized orchid plants for viewing by the general public and for judging by accredited AOS judges. Orchid-related artwork, photography, and handicrafts are included, as well as cut flower arrangements. There are educational exhibits as well as guided tours.

2008 Show Results

The 2008 show was held on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, at the Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa.

Click here for a listing of all the winning entries.

The large number of vendors that attend the annual show sell a wide variety of superior quality plants as well as everything needed for successful orchid growing. Many members enjoy the rewarding experience of working on the organizing of this well-known annual show. We also participate in shows held by other societies with volunteer members traveling to these shows and preparing OOS displays.

Royal Botanical Gardens

How about a fall weekend at the Royal Botanical Gardens?

As we mentioned in the last Spike and during the March meeting, after the smashing success of the visit to the Montreal Botanical Gardens in February, we are now planning a trip to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario for a weekend in September, from Friday September 12, 2008 to Sunday September 14, 2008. The trip will include visits to three orchid nurseries en route: Orchids in our Tropics; Marsh Hollow Orchids; and Cloud's Orchids. Please click here for detailed information and travel schedule.

Montreal Botanical Gardens

A number of Ottawa Orchid Society members went on a bus trip to Montreal Botanical Gardens on February 23, with a side trip to visit Le Paradis des Orchidees on the way home. Please click here for a selection of photos from the trip.

MEETINGS

Two years ago we welcomed

Member number 1000!

and although of course not all members are still with us, the society currently has close to 200 active members.

We meet the third Sunday of every month, excepting June, July and August, from 1:30 p.m. to about 4:00 p.m., at the Tom Brown Arena, 141 Bayview Ave., Ottawa. Click here for directions and a map.

Meetings are open to members, guests and non-members and everyone is welcome. However, to help defray society costs we will be requesting non-members to pay a small admission fee of $5.00 per meeting. Of course, admission to all monthly meetings (nine per year) is included with membership, currently only $25 per year.

A highlight of each meeting is the Show Table where members bring flowering plants for display and judging. These Show Tables have developed over the years into mini-shows in their own right. Here are some photos from the Show Table at recent meetings. Plants are judged in each orchid family class and ribbons are awarded. This is a good opportunity to share knowledge related to specific orchids and their growing conditions.

Programs are varied. Click here for the planned program of meetings for this year. Each meeting features a presentation, which can include lectures, demonstrations and hands-on workshops. Occasionally, international orchid specialists are invited speakers, with plants for sale from their greenhouses. Refreshments are available at meetings for a nominal charge.

A wide selection of orchid plants and grower supplies is available for purchase at monthly meetings. Both members who are vendors and hobbyist members are welcome to participate.

ORCHID LINKS

Click here for links to other orchid-related sites.

NEWSLETTER

Spike, the monthly Society newsletter, is available to all members and to affiliated societies across Canada. This provides monthly communication on Society activities and a wide variety of orchid-related topics. Information is included on bulk purchases, national and international orders, and on significant orchid society activities outside of Ottawa.

Starting with the September 2007 edition, the newsletter will be available on line. Please click here to read on screen or download for printing. For convenience, the files are in Acrobat (.PDF) format.

LIBRARY

The Society maintains an extensive library of orchid publications and videos that are made available on loan for members' use. Click here for a complete listing of titles available.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

The OOS offers a stimulating and friendly environment for those who are fascinated by the world of orchids. Members derive special satisfaction from sharing their experiences and working together to improve not only their orchid collections, but also their knowledge and appreciation of these wonderful plants. We are fortunate in Ottawa to have a rich source of experienced and knowledgeable individuals who are available to provide advice and guidance.

HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?

Membership dues ($25.00 per year, Sep 1 to Aug 31) are payable at the membership table at any meeting. Alternatively, the membership application form may be completed and mailed along with a cheque payable to the Ottawa Orchid Society, to the address shown on the form.

ORCHIDS

Orchids are the most spectacular, beautiful and intriguing of all flowers. Some 30,000 species are known from all continents excepting Antarctica. More than forty species have been identified in the National Capital Region. Protection of their wild environment is of vital importance. The Society and individual members are actively involved in conservation activities.

Hobbyists are primarily interested in showy tropical orchids including Cattleya, Cymbidium, Oncidium, Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis. There are thousands of hybrids, with new ones being produced annually. Many of these hybrids combine the best features of their parents, allowing growers to produce larger, more perfect flowers in a wide range of colours. Hybrids are often easier to grow than species and will thrive in a variety of growing conditions. Please click here for information on growing orchids. Plants are readily available and reasonably priced. They may be raised on a windowsill, under artificial lights, in a solarium or a greenhouse. In past years, orchid growing was often difficult and frustrating. Due to cost and the required expertise, it was restricted to only a few. Today, there are orchids for everyone, to suit their budget and growing conditions.

Click here to download a brochure formatted for printing.

Les brochures de la Ottawa Orchid Society sont maintenant disponibles en français - svp cliquez ici pour obtenir une version imprimable (format PDF).



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