June 2022

It is summertime in Western North Carolina! The bears are out roaming the streets of Asheville, a gazillion tourists are burning up our roads, rivers and breweries, and everyone is on the brink of kicking off summer 2022. Here at the WNCOS, we are beginning our summer season with an absolute orchid rockstar. Details below my friends…

The one and only, Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids will kick off his 2022 Carolina’s Tour this Sunday, June 12, in Asheville with the WNCOS. Fred is flying in from California, which is incredibly exciting after all we have been through over the past couple of years. We are anticipating a record crowd for this event, so we’ll encourage you all to show up early and avoid walking in late. Yes, of course this will be a plant purchasing opportunity from one of the finest hybridizers in the world. Fred will have plants for sale on site, and he is bringing us plants for our super popular raffle table.

Fred is offering a 105 discount on pre-orders and an addition 5% for AOS members. Check out Sunset Valley Orchids for your shopping pleasure.

Fred can speak on countless orchid topics and genera. However, we’ve opted for a cultural program which will be very comprehensive and will appeal to growers of all types and skill levels. But, to take advantage of all this awesomeness, you’ve got to show up!

The title of this program is “Becoming An 80 Percentile Grower”, and here is some more information from Sunset Valley Orchids about Fred and this presentation. Ever wonder what the most important requirements are for growing the best orchids? Learn about the underlying reasons of how and why orchids grow the way they do. Then explore the fundamentals and advanced growing techniques to best grow them. Orchid plant culture is explained as you have never heard it before. Learn how to become an 80 percentile grower, expect to be wowed by this talk!

Fred Clarke has been growing orchid for over 42 years and has been hybridizing for more than 38 of those years. With all of this experience as a professional grower and manager in the horticultural industry, Fred applies these skills at his nursery in San Diego, California. He is a passionate grower whose curiosity is broad and varied. Although developing Cattleya hybrids has been his sustaining interest, he is also actively creating new Paphiopedilum and Aussie Dendrobium hybrids plus some others to be named if they work out. His pioneering work in Catasetum intergeneric hybrids led to the development of several notable hybrids, more recently the grex, Fredclarkeara After Dark, which produced “the blackest flower ever witnessed”. This grex has received over 100 awards worldwide with nine FCC’s and 30 AM’s from the American Orchid Society.

In July, we will have Bill Thoms in person on Sunday, July 10th. Another incredible speaker and friend of the WNCOS. If you happen to be one of the lucky members who were here with Bill Thoms and us several years back, I’m sure you remember his hilarious jokes and adult comedy that he naturally deployed while capturing our minds and ears with his wealth of orchid expertise. I have only personally seen Bill speak one time, but I will never forget it. Can’t wait for round two!

To sum everything up, just don’t miss this opportunity to meet Fred Clarke in person, this Sunday, 2pm, Asheville Visitor Center. Then, block off your Sunday afternoon, July 10th to ensure you don’t miss the chance to meet Bill Thoms.

Thank you!

Mike Mims

President, WNCOS

A message from Graham:

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P.S. This meeting will also be available via Zoom for those that can’t get out in person.

Axel Graumann is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: The WNCOS Presents: Fred Clarke, "Becoming an 80 Percentile Grower"
Time: Jun 12, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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