Omar Gonzalez
Omar Gonzalez
A chemist by trade and botanist at heart. I have found orchid growing a rewarding and enjoyable hobby. Work skills are used and are enjoyable for change. Solving problems is another aspect I enjoy.
I had moved back to Miami from Iowa in 2011 when I met a man that gave me some orchids: Spathoglottis, Vanilla, and Sobralia. It took a while for me to give up on a vegetable garden. Eventually I attended an orchid show before my first trip to Hawaii. I visited Akatsuka, Carmela, and became even more obsessed in Orchids.
Upon my return, I started growing seedlings under lights, after a year it was obvious that I needed a big yard. An opportunity to volunteer at the Bonnet House gave me lots of hands on experience in managing a Vandaceaous collection. From then on, I would learn from anyone that would talk to me, seeking out knowledgeable growers, attending society meetings throughout Florida. I would attend every orchid show from Miami to Fort Pierce. Especially if they had lectures. Eventually some growers took a liking to me and they were a pleasure to get to know. All their wisdom was used to make my collection grow and I figure out how to make them thrive through trial and error. In that time I cannot tell you of how many plants were lost due to being a stranger in my own back yard. I have gone on to do orchid seed culture, hybrids, as well as caring for collections in private homes or businesses. I enjoy growing a myriad of genera, thanks to Springwater Orchids, Redhawk Orchids, Bill Thoms, Andy’s Orchids, Tamiami Festival, Redland Festival, you get the picture. My hands on experience is extensive with Cattleya, and Vandaceous. I also take care of private collections.
Come hear me share the monsters divided, finding the best conditions for orchids, the pests and diseases and many other topics if time allows.
Lessons Learned: Wisdom from Growers and Orchid Growing. The hands on approach to orchid growing. Many failures and long awaited bloom teach more than we knew beforehand. I will share a presentation that will give some practical orchid care guidance.
Omar will be speaking this month on the Encyclia genus, Cattleya Alliance (Cattleya, Laelia, Schomburkia, Brassavola, Broughtonia, Encyclia and other related genra.
Omar will kindly be providing plants for our raffle table and will also have plants to sell.
Georgia Tasker
The South Florida Orchid Society has lost another of it’s “Beautiful Orchids” – on July 22, 2023 Georgia Tasker passed away. Georgia was 78. She retired years ago from her position as a garden writer for the Miami Herald. I know a lot of us in the SFOS as well as a lot of the people in south Florida – picked up the Herald to see what Georgia was talking about today.
Although I don’t have the membership records that go back that far – I know Georgia has been a member of SFOS for many, many years. I was a member of the SFOS Board when we use to have Board Meetings in the members home – I remember going to the home of Georgia Tasker and Sandra Schultz and what a wonderful tour we got of their back yard – full of all kind of plants and many, many beautiful Orchids.
The South Florida Orchid Society extends our deepest sympathy to Sandra Schultz and the families and friends of Georgia Tasker.
Sally Taylor
Membership Chair
South Florida Orchid Society