Annual Summer Workshop, August 3, 2024

July 23, 2024
Featured Happenings

This year’s Annual Summer Workshop, to be held Saturday, August 3, will focus on the topic “The Future of Paphiopedilum Orchids.” An all-day event from 8:30am to 4:30pm, the workshop will be held at our usual meeting place at First Christian Church, 1601 Sunset Boulevard in Houston.

Speakers include Thanh Nguyen of Springwater Orchids in Florida; Ross Hella, of Deerwood Orchids in Minnesota; and local Houston-area Paphiopedilum growers who will share their own tips.

In addition to the classes there will be AOS judging, plant sales, and an auction. Lunch is included in the $65/person registration fee. Please use the form below to register.

AOS judging will be held during lunch, and a Friday night social will take place at around 6pm. at Father Ted Baenziger’s home. Registrants will receive an email with more information.

You may register for the workshop using a credit or debit card by scrolling down. If you prefer to pay at the workshop, please send an email to Stephen Gallagher with your intention to attend so that we have an accurate head count for lunch.

Workshop Agenda—
The Future of Paphiopedilum Orchids

8:30 amRegistration and social
9:00 amOpening remarks: Stephen Gallagher
9:05 amIntroduction of speakers: Rick Hepler
9:15–10:00 amSpeaker: Thanh Nguyen — “Multifloral Paphs—The Magnificent Lady Slippers”
10:00–10:15 amBreak
10:15–11:00 amSpeaker: Ross Hella — “Breeding Miniature Paphiopedilums”
11:00–11:15 amBreak
11:15 am–1:15 pmLunch, AOS judging, silent auction, sales
1:15–2:00 pmSpeaker: Thanh Nguyen — “Line Breeding Paph Species”
2:00–2:15 pmBreak
2:15–3:00 pmSpeaker: Ross Hella — “So You Want To Make an Orchid: My Experience in Hybridizing”
3:10 pmSilent auction ends
3:20–4:00 pmPaphiopedilum culture panel discussion/questions

Download a printable version of the agenda

Register your plant(s) for judging

Opportunity to Preorder from Springwater Orchids

HOS members and workshop attendees are invited to preorder from Thanh Nguyen’s list of availability for pickup and payment at the August 1 meeting and August 3 workshop. Thanh will speak at the meeting and is a featured speaker at the workshop.

The preorder deadline is July 26, 2024. You may pay by cash/check or through your smartphone via Zelle, Venmo, or Paypal friends and family.

Please send your preorder to Thanh at springwaterorchids@earthlink.net or via text to 321-223-6173 (text preferred). All other inquiries are welcome, but no guarantees.

View the extensive list of orchid offerings from Springwater Orchids here.

Opportunity to Preorder from Deerwood Orchids

Ross Hella of Deerwood Orchids will also take preorders for the August Summer Workshop. He will not be at the meeting on Thursday night, so anyone who would like to order will need to pick up at the Summer Workshop on Saturday.

Ross accepts PayPal and credit cards. Some items are limited. If you have any questions or would like to order, email Ross at rosshella53@gmail.com or call 218-232-3533.

View the list of orchid offerings from Deerwood Orchids here.

About the Workshop Speakers

Thanh Nguyen

Thanh Nguyen is the owner-operator of Springwater Orchids in Melbourne, Florida. He is an engineer by trade, but has been collecting and growing orchids for more than 45 years. His orchid business began in 2001, mainly selling on the internet but gradually moved to orchid shows in recent years.

Thanh loves orchid species. And although he grows and sells all orchid genera, his forte has always been the genus Paphiopedilum. He collects fine plants and grows, sells, breeds, and enjoys sharing his experiences with his customers and colleagues. His passion in Paphs resulted in numerous award-winning plants and an ongoing Paph breeding program using local labwork and a local growing environment similar to Houston.

His breeding program recently extended to mini/compact plants, focusing on the genera Brassavola. He also continues to breed species, improving overall plant and flower quality, broadening their growing conditions to make growing orchids a joy, not an aggravation.

Ross and Julie Hella

Ross and Julie Hella had been growing a wide variety of orchids in their home for more than 20 years. In 2001, Ross decided to begin hybridizing Paphiopedilums, concentrating on smaller growing plants. In 2010, with orchids growing in literally every room in the house, they built an 800-square-foot permanent greenhouse to hold their collection. At the same time, they started Deerwood Orchids.

To date, Ross has sent 394 crosses to the lab for germination. Ross and Julie have received 50 flower quality awards, 5 cultural awards, and one Award of Quality from the American Orchid Society. They currently live near Deerwood, Minnesota with their son, Scott, and greenhouse helper, Mini.

Ross and Mini removing shade cloth.

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