The Bucks County Orchid Society The Bucks County (PA) Orchid Society (BCOS) is a small group of orchid enthusiasts that meet 10 times a year to exchange ideas, experiences, and knowledge on how to grow orchids. Our members grow their orchids on window sills, under lights and in greenhouses. Most meetings feature a knowledgeable speaker, a show table and a plant raffle. Many members bring in their blooming plants for the show table. The member's experience ranges from beginners to very knowledgeable growers. The BCOS is an affiliate of the American Orchid Society (AOS). BCOS participates in native orchid conservation projects and coordinates its activities with other regional AOS affiliates. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30PM (except July and August) at the Churchville Nature Center..

Next BCOS Meeting

November 17, 2011

Churchville Nature Center

Open to the Public

501 Churchville Lane

Churchville, PA 18966

ShowTable Setup 7:00 Meeting 7:30PM

Speaker—Bob Sprague, - "North American Orchids”

Bob is a former Navy Supply Corps officer and a retired business executive. His psychology degree from Muhlenberg College should help him control his OCOD (obsessive, compulsive orchid disorder) but, he is a Director of the Native Orchid Conference and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society anyway. Bob and his wife Amy travel extensively in pursuit of orchids and birds. "My first encounter with a wild orchid was at age 12 when I tried to transplant Cyp. acaule from a nearby woodland into my yard, a definite no-no; as well as an impossible task…it didn’t work. I've pursued a life-long interest in natural history (birds and wild flowers in particular) ever since. I’ve had the good fortune to travel to some interesting and remote places, camera in hand, looking for that perfect shot (one that’s saleable). So far it has eluded me. Now, Amy has dragged me, kicking and screaming, into the digital age so, I'm starting over. In addition to photographing native orchids in situ, we grow tropical epiphytes in a warm greenhouse.

BCOS AUCTION 2011 UPDATE

Last month’s orchid auction was our finest yet. John Kuhlman, Treasurer, said, “I consider the auction a great success thanks to a lot of hard work by all". The total revenue was more than last year. After all expenses, there was a profit, which exceeded our budget. We have entered 7 new members into our member roster. Even if only a few of those come to regular meetings, we have found a way to grow our auction by promoting it to local orchid societies. President Erich Wendel expressed his thanks to “everyone for the time, effort and enthusiasm that you devoted to our auction. Without the efforts of members like yourselves I don't think our auction would have been as successful as it was".

Over 200 plants were auctioned, and the money raised provides for programming as well as the ability for BCOS to donate to conservation causes.

Special thanks to all of the members who donated their plants for auction and those who worked the night of the auction, with a special thanks to our auctioneers Faye Denning, Michael Kauffman and Alan Block; to Andy Braun for collecting and displaying photos of blooms; to Mitch Paroly who moved the plants to boxes; and to John Kuhlman, Julie and Geoff MacKenzie for keeping track of the winners and collecting payment. Thanks to all the people who brought food for the snack table. Special thanks to Charles Keiser and Alan Applebaum for their efforts in putting everything together.

 Need Directions to the Orchid Auction at the Churchville Center