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Next Meeting: Thursday 13th October 7:30pm
Carson Withlow"A History of Blue Cattleya Breeding"
Carson's work with blue
Cattleyas and Laelias in the 1960's laid the groundwork for
many of today's hybridizing efforts. This presentation
takes you through the breeding program, showing the parental
stock used and some of the hybrids produced.
Carson became
interested in orchids in 1958 when he was a sophomore in
college. The following years he worked on the weekends
and summers repotting orchids for a firm in Springfield,
Illinois. After graduating, Carson went to Santa Ana,
California to work for the prestigious firm of B.O. Bracey and
Company. A year later, he changed
his direction and entered upon a career in government service
with the Orange County (California) Health Department.
Career-wise, he has been an administrator in public health
since that time, changing in 1988 to highway safety, and
retiring from government service on May 31st,
2005.
After leaving
Bracey in 1961, he established his own collection, mostly of
blue Cattleyas, with which he undertook hybridizing in
association with Fred A. Stewart, Orchids. From 1964
thru 1969, he produced in excess of 60 blue cattleya hybrids,
many of which are still in collections, arising from the
original seedlings or as mericlones. Many are still used
as basic parents in blue Cattleya breeding.
In 1973,
Carson took a distinct change in direction, working with the
hardy terrestrial orchids, primarily the Cypripediums and
Calopogons. His work resulted in the first registered
artificial Cypripedium hybrid in 1987 and first Calopogon
hybrid in 1991. He continues to hybridize these genera
and is building a small business, Cyp. Haven, as retail outlet
for his work.
In 1995,
Carson's interest in the internet and an easier means of
finding orchid related sites on the world wide web brought
about the birth of "The Orchid Mall," which today
has become the definitive link site for orchids on the
internet. Carson's hybrid work is recognized throughout
the world. He has published over 30 articles in U.S. and
European journals. He has been giving presentations on
his breeding and propagation for over 25 years, throughout the
United States, and in Scotland at the 14th World Orchid
Congress in 1993. He is truly a world-class hybridizer,
author and speaker.
Plant table
provided by Highland Tropicals/D & D Flowers.
New Monthly
Program: ICU
During the
general meetings each month, we will start a new program call
the ICU - Doctor on Duty. During the brake session (only
15 minutes) while most of you will be enjoying the
refreshments, one can bring in a plant to have it looked at by
the ICU Doctor on duty. Remember to place the plant you bring
in into a clear plastic container. Please do not bring
in more than one plant to each meeting.
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The Diablo View Annual
Show and Sale
The Diablo
View Annual Show and Sale will be on held on October 22-23,
2005. Orchid
Displays, Orchid Sales & Raffles, Plant Doctor,
Potting & Culture Demonstrations. Click
here to get the fliers, please print and
distribute.
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