May 2021
May 2021 WNCOS Monthly Newsletter
This Sunday at 2 pm will be our next monthly meeting. Hopefully, it will be one of our last meetings held exclusively via ZOOM. We are eyeing a hopeful return to an in-person meeting later this year, while obviously monitoring the COVID-19 virus and its effects. Stay tuned and know that once we’re able to meet in person we hope to do so in grand fashion and obviously while remaining safe. We have been discussing some options for a sheltered outdoor location. Should you have a great recommendation for us, please let us know. As always, keep an eye on the website for announcements, events, updates, etc.
Last month I was feeling brave after having been vaccinated and headed south to Krull Smith Orchids in Apopka, Florida for an orchid adventure. They were holding another orchid event in a creative fashion with multiple activities like AOS judging, and vendors all set up across the campus of Krull Smith. Believe this was the 3rd event of this caliber that Krull Smith hosted over the past year. These festivals have really helped out some vendors and businesses and provided an orchid event for enthusiasts to attend and enjoy. Overall was a huge success, was managed very well, and with safety as a top priority. The common theme amongst attendees was how badly everyone missed the orchid show season and how happy they were to be attending this event. I was asked numerous times when the Asheville Orchid Festival would take place again. Lots of interest in the region, with many orchid lovers already making note of our dates for April 2022. I always feel proud of what the WNCOS has accomplished over the years with our festival and reputation. Please make sure as we begin working on the 2022 Asheville Orchid Festival to become involved. Many of our newer members have yet to experience our big event, and the best way to truly experience it is to become involved and help us remain successful. Our dates are tentatively set for April 1-3, 2022. Please, block out those dates, and let’s keep talking!
David Sorokowsky of Paph Paradise is our guest speaker on Sunday. What a super guy! I’ve really just met him a couple of times over the past few years. But, I’ve been lucky to spend some time with him and have gotten to know him pretty well here lately. David is a very bright guy, has a fascinating background, and has become of the most successful paph vendors in the USA. I can personally vouch for the quality of his plants, they are outstanding. David also has much knowledge about wine, gardening, and breeding slipper orchids. A reminder that he’s extended a 10% discount off plant purchases you can make directly with him, and he’s extended this date through May 16th. You have time to check out his website https://paphparadise.com , contact him, and make a purchase at a discount. I am sure he will send good plants to you, and when I saw David a few weeks ago in Florida he shared with me his excitement to speak to my society back home in Asheville. So, make sure to show him some support and be sure to follow the ZOOM link for our meeting this Sunday afternoon.
Dave’s Bio
After receiving his degree in biochemistry from the University of Toronto, Dave opted to step outside his chosen field and operated a tropical fish import business for eight years. Upon returning to school, Dave received a degree in enology and viticulture from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. While attending Brock, Dave began acquiring orchids one 2” pot at a time and before he graduated, Dave had over 100 orchids. Winemaking and a passion for orchids prompted Dave to seek a warmer climate in California about one year later. Dave has been growing paphiopedilums for about 15 years and seriously hybridizing for the past 10 years. He is an accredited AOS judge and his paphiopedilums have received over 100 awards to date from the AOS and CSA. Many of those awarded plants playing important roles in his breeding program. In 2018 Dave left winemaking in order to focus all of his time running Paph Paradise Orchids.
ZOOM INVITE LINK BELOW
Axel Graumann is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: David Sorokowsky with Paph Paradise
Time: May 9, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting HERE
Meeting ID: 849 9926 7925
Passcode: 341557
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