BromeliAdvisorySeptember 2014

In this IssuePresident’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2In Case You Missed It. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2In Case You Missed It (World Conference). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3Nat DeLeon Wins Prestigious Wally Berg Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Epiphyte Paul Calls for Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4Rules on Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Murder in Corbin A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

BromeliAdvisorySeptember 2014WEBPAGE: http://www.bssf-miami.org/

http://www.facebook.com/groups/BromeliadSSF/?bookmark_t=grouphttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Bromeliad-Society-of-South-Florida/84661684279

President Barbara PartagasVP: Lenny GoldsteinTreasurer: Fred SussenbergerSecretary: Peggy Fisher_________________DIRECTORSPast Pres.: Carl BauerDirectors:

Maureen Adelman ’13 –’14Joy Parrish ’13 –’14Alex Bello ’14 –’15

Barbara Sparling ’14 –’15

EditorRobert C Meyer

Advertising: Robert MeyerDoor Prize: Alan HerndonEducation: Nat DeLeonHospitality: Elaine MillsLibrary: Barbara PartagasMembership: MaureenAdelman/Melody RayMem. Plant Sales: Antonio ArbelaezRaffle: Melissa BrailRefreshments: Sandy Roth

What Who

SalesTable

Andy Siekkinen andDian Johnston

SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 7:30 PM SPEAKER: Speaker: Robert McMillan, Jr., Ph.D.Topic: Bromeliad ProductionRAFFLE TABLE: Dian JohnstonFOOD: No Sandy – so any help from anyone will begreatly appreciated

ABOUT THE SPEAKERby Leonard Goldstein

Bob McMillan was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Heearned B.S. and M.S. degrees at theUniversity of Miami and a Ph.D. degree atWashington State University. As a longtimeemployee of the University of Florida'sInstitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences(IFAS), he gained recognition as a leadingauthority on diseases of ornamentals, tropicalfruits and vegetables throughout the tropicalworld. He also patented two biologicalagents, which have shown promise for thecontrol of numerous plant pathogens.

Dr. McMillan has remained very active in retirement. He iscurrently an Emeritus Professor at the University of Floridaand Miami Dade College, teaching plant pathology,entomology, and horticulture, with emphasis on orchiddiseases and other ornamental plant disorders. He is also theDirector of Research and Development for Kerry’s BromeliadNursery, Inc., in Homestead and Twyford International's tissueculture laboratory. His duties at the nursery are to developdisease control strategies, as well production practices forbromeliads and orchids. With the Twyford division, he dealswith issues of tissue culture advancement and plantcontaminates.

BromeliAdvisory September 2014

Page 2

President’s Messageby Barbara Partagas

Your Board has already started planning theannual October Auction. As you know, this is ourmost important fundraiser during the year. Ourmembership has always supported this event withgusto, even one year with an unfriendly tropicalstorm approaching.

Please consider bringing a neighbor or friend toshare the fun with us. This is one way to share ourappreciation of and to educate folks aboutbromeliads. Who can resist those rare plants weare given the opportunity to acquire through thisevent?

In Case You Missed Itby Robert Meyer

Andy Siekkinen came from California to tell us aboutwhy he left nanotechnology to become a bromeliadbotanical collector who sojourned in Mexicowhenever opportunity arose.

Basically on a quest to find cacti, succulents, orchidsand bromeliads, the bromeliad adventure focusesupon Hechtia in the Oaxacta region. His concern isabout three main plant issues: (1) CAM metabolism(way plants breath and save water); (2) trichomes(nutrient absorption with that fuzzy stuff); and (3)succulence (water holding).

Hechtia are lithophytic plantsand the genus has more than65 species. Primarily found inMexico, Siekkinen believesthat many more speciea needto be found.

Blooming with the Hechtiafamily are primarily central orterm blooming (will giveoffsets) and the minority arelateral blooming (lie Dyckia). The ratio is believed to beabout 2 to 1.

Hechtia are often ignored. Hard to market, and manyoversized, the species oftenremain in their habitat untouched. And, unlikecomparable Dyckia, the Hechtia flowers are smalland thinner – making them less attractive for theconsumer.

Hechtia grows in tough places. And, it often is betterpresented in large clumps – a thankful discovery to

the owner as separating these plants is about asdifficult to do as anything. Sometimes, chainsawsare required with protective gear to the saw’sholder.

Cultivators use rock walls and rock gardens tofoster these plants which are encouraged by heatand apparent masochism.

A recent discovery of a Pacific limestone groupmake people wonder if the 4 species discovered area species complex or a complex of species. Hechtia’s relatively new introduction to thecuriosity of bromeliad growers will patiently awaitthis and many new discoveries about it. ThesePacific plants are unique in that they resemblespiders growing over rocks. And, Siekkinen assertsthat many seen on the highway remain unnamed.

Numerous slides of the plants were given to fosterappreciation for this bromeliad of the dryatmosphere – making it often almost (if not)impossible to grow in humid southern Florida.

If this all tickles your interest, Siekkinen offerstrips to search these and other plants in their nativewilderness. Go to www.eagle-eye-adventures.com.

In Case You Missed ItWORLD CONFERENCE HAWAIIby Robert Meyer

Bonnie Boutwell chaired a Hawaiian bromeliadadventure which included trips and extensive;y

educational lectures.

Over 6 lectures weregiven, including somefrom people you know –Andy Siekkinen (seeprevious article) andAlan Herndon (our veryown).

Tours included a triparound the Oahu island toFells’ Hawaiian SunshineNursery and SharonPetersen’s Sharon’sPlant. Hawaiian SunshineVrissea hybrids arestunning, and many are

shown on our facebook page which is identifiedbelow. Same for the great Neoregelia hybrids ofSharon’s Plant. The sale was predominatelyVriesea, Neoregelia, and Tillandsia. California plants shared some of the seller’sbooths.

Neoregelia hybrid at Sharon’s Plant.

BromeliAdvisory September 2014

Page 3

Auction plants were ginormous and many were one-of-a-kind hybrid seen never by local nurseries.

At the nurseries, I found two kinds of plantingmaterial – palm bark for younger plants, and lavarock for others. With rainfall of over 150 inches ayar, lava rock is employed to avoid rot for the oftentender Vriesea.

The trip further included a visit to the LyonArboretum where therewas an array of nativeplants, palms and abromeliad garden.

For photos about the funhad by those attending,you can go on facebookat our page and look for:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204762880898221&set=pcb.10204762889778443&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204782519909184&set=ms.c.eJxVk1uKREEIQ3c0lG~%3Bd~%3B8Y6MjQdvy4cvDFGS54~_r9aQmTfS~%3Bidf4s9zcvpHpDpHzIh09UjkqVHUKJOCsg6T7WV~_CHSMdRrdxfv0cvSKQ6ATrNPrMPgvDDWSrDyr0~_8Q1LQw2Smap5h12KSjT1EzyiRz9BkTKAMTEXhWTkMFDlVOzfio0aSqSEM5DdXUwYfJ~%3BpU0l5qgVzoTQ02dmlUu9uyCmuEaD~_gMe3bkY6~_IhOaYsMOAsikrB5I3Y~_XE7ObCBBla8F~_JxIy3jE7QOZOWw09xGnt1Vuy5Db2Gc947NL55baTqj3Uae3dhh4NUkRETW8K9BlO4choDz847RXwgcchDd6NUTdZPMdH~%3BPTPBjQXfmDm2HM7KAc~%3BBl4D4dKJZubCL5DtEoBhETg0uIZV1ClMk79Q21eTXbY2LSueaDpA4ZHVOGvuWk98y9gflmEPgOWk7tsln8V~%3B7lpPfsj~%3BkkxMfcocBqg~-~-.bps.a.10204782517149115.1073741848.1423497978&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204765887213377&set=pcb.10204765894733565&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204762918859170&set=pcb.10204

762926979373&type=1&theater

Nursery Visitshttps://www.facebook.com/84661684279/photos/a.10152662515904280.1073741858.84661684279/10152662523889280/?type=1&theater

Nat DeLeon Wins Prestigious Wally Berg Award

At the World Conference, a biannual award is given– the Wally Berg Award. The Wally Berg Award ofExcellence was formulated in 1999 to honor the lateWally Berg (1927-2000). The criteria is: (1) Theindividual should be a bromeliad grower who isnationally or internationally recognized for diversityof species cultivated and excellence of cultivation;(2) The individual should actively pursue one of thefollowing activities [collecting and identifyingbromeliads in natural environments, includingcollecting new species/varieties/cultivars; themembers of the various bromeliad societies andorganizations, including the BSI and the BIC, should

benefit from this activity;promoting theappreciation and cultivation of bromeliads at theinternational level, including such activities asorganizing and participating in collecting trips withinternational representation, giving presentationsand seminars to national and internationalaudiences, and writing manuscripts for publicationin national or international books, journals, or othermedia (e.g. Internet, CD ROMS); (3) Theindividual should actively support efforts to further

the scientific, taxonomic,or cultural understandingof bromeliads throughdonation of time, effort,or money to recognizedorganizations (e.g., theBSI), institutions (e.g.,the BIC, or SelbyGardens), or groups ofi n d i v i d u a l s ( e . g . ,b r o m e l i a d c l u b s ,statewide or regionalbromeliad councils); (4) The individual should beactive in a local, regional,or national bromeliadsociety and be recognizedby other members of thatsociety for his/hercontributions to thefunctioning of that society

and its activities. The individual should also be amember in good standing of the BSI; (5) If theindividual is a bromeliad hybridizer, he/she shouldbe internationally recognized for excellence in oneor more of the following categories [innovation increating bromeliad hybrids, success in cultivationof bromeliad hybrids, promotion and distributionof bromeliad hybrids.]; (6) The individual shouldbe generally recognized as an expert in one or moreof the following aspects of bromeliads [ecology,evolution, or taxonomy, cultivation orhybridization, display or exhibition; and (7) Theindividual should be generally recognized forhis/her generous nature in sharing his/herknowledge of bromeliads and for giving ofhimself/herself for the benefit of other peopleinterested in bromeliads and for bromeliadorganizations at all levels.

Looking at those criteria – is there anyone youknow who fits the criteria any better? Congratulations to Nat DeLeon for another awardwell earned.

Epiphyte Paul Calls for PlantsBring to Meeting and Paul Finlayson will relieve you

Barbara Partagas accepting Wally Berg Award on Nat DeLeon’s behalf

BromeliAdvisory September 2014

Page 4

Paul Finlayson’s neighbourhood is going through aBeautification which includes putting 100s ofOrchids in the Trees. Paul has been asked if he couldsupply some Bromeliads. So, Paul asks the BSSFmembership if anyone can bring epiphytic plantssuch as Aechmea blanchetiana, Aechmea bracteataor anything that is good to grow a tree and pups. Medium size plants are the best. Paul I will be at thenext meeting to pick any donations.

Rules on Table

BSSF encourages all of you to consider selling yourextra plants at a meeting. Here are the rules: Sell atany meeting when the guest speaker is not sellingplants; Plants must be clean (potted or bare root),tagged with name, price, and seller’s name; You maybring up to six plants per meeting – 80% goes to theseller and 20% to the Society.

Any questions should go to Mike Michalski orAntonio Arbelaez

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 21, 2014 – 7:00 PMAnnual BSSF AuctionFairchild Tropical Botanic Gardenhttp://www.bssf-miami.org/

MURDER IN CORBIN A© by Robert MeyerP R E V I O U S C H A P T E R S M A Y B E S E E N I Nhttp://www.bssf-miami.org/101.Speeding on highway 836from Jackson MemorialHospital toward Miami Beach, Marlene thoughtabout what had just happened and what was tohappen. The thoughts, intertwined and extremelydistinct, somehow became muddled within herconsciousness, and she felt a whirling departurethrough her psyche which was transferring herrational thoughts into whirring random thoughts. Shewas lost.

But, the road was straight, without intersection, anda laser shot to her destination. With siren andflashing light, her vehicle moved remarkably quicklyacross the intracoastal connections. After makingsuch great time, she turned off the siren and lightwhen crossing Alton Road and edging toward OceanDrive. Upon arrival, she handed her keys to thevalet, and walked with a bit of a bounce into the barand noticed immediately that no less than 10 policeofficers were inside wearing their respectiveconcepts of ordinary clothing. All stood out, eitheras gregarious, irrational or obscure – Boss and theCaptain being the latter as they or their attire madeher extremely uncomfortable. When she walked

toward the bar the bartender looked at her, lookedat Shirley who was nodding, and then he grabbeda goblet and made another Virgin Shirley for hiscustomer.

After receiving her drink, she slowly turned aroundat the bar to see if there was a potentialconversation in her midst. None appeared to fit therequest. Then she turned back tot he bar andnoticed that someone was next to her, very close toher, and she held out a hand and introduced herself,“Hi. I am Shirley and I have heard a lot about you.”

“Hi. Guess I am at a loss, as I do not know muchabout you. Hope the words about me were kind.” Not knowing if they were, but being concerned, shethen looked coyly to Shirley and finished, “Werethey kind words?”

Smirking at the coquette looking Marlene, Shirleyslowly exhaled, “The kindest.” And, then she ledMarlene back to her booth of Miami’s best.

As Marlene was walking to the booth, Marin andGort were entering. Marin, always concernedabout being ambushed for something he had donerecently or even in his distant past, knew the roomwas full of illogical patrons. He first saw Boss andthe Captain. Then he saw the gang of women inthe booth which included Marlene, a face he knewbut could not quite put a name on or associate whatpart of his past it was to be associated. Hecontinued to look around, and saw the remainder aseclectic and different. But, he also knew he wasold and did not know the terms or rules of theseestablishments any more, and the uniquity of thepatrons may be the norm for Miami Beach drinkingestablishments for the 21st century.

Gort, not as capable of observation, saw hisdaughter only and immediately walked toward herand was a bit surprised to see her accompanied bya man. But, he understood she was both intelligentand savvy, and the inclusion of the person had apurpose, which she obviously knew and he wouldhave to learn within the next several minutes. Ashe walked toward his daughter, he did not need tocommence discussion as she leaped out of her chairand ran to hug her father, and looked back toJoshua and said, “Joshua, this is my father. Dad,this is Joshua – someone who will be veryimportant to you and me.”

While everyone was hugging and embracing, Boss,Captain, as well as Shirley’s table and a few moreof Miami’s undercover finest were incapable ofhearing the specifics of the discussion. But, OceanDrive had a van parked out front of the bar whichwas fully loaded with surveillance equipment, andevery word was decipherable and taped. Joshua

BromeliAdvisory September 2014

Page 5

knew this would be forthcoming since his divulgenceof the location of the rendezvous. But, the otherofficers in the bar were less aware. Only Boss andCaptain knew the details.

Observing every detail was the bartender. Aware ofthe sting and the large numbers of officers in thefacility, he was extremely conscience of thepartisans, and wondered what the immense need wasfor so many officers to cover the table of two elderlymen, one young woman and a dweeb – all unarmedand none capable of standing a fight with oroutrunning Shirley or her pack. This lack of logicalconclusion for providing so much muscle for thisescapade made him extremely nervous, and hereached below the bar to assure himself that his 45and his glock were both within reach, and relieve hisanxiety of any concepts of his being in danger fromthe people flooding his establishment.

As he exhaled in relief of his safety, Shirleymotioned to him for another round, and heimmediately went to his job. “Tips were going to bebountiful.” he thought, “And I hope that no one doesanything foolish to ruin my economic gain.”

102.“Joshua. Before we being to speak here, I need to aska few questions of you. Okay?” Gort sternly asked ofthe young man seated next to his adoring and onlydaughter.

Joshua nodded.

“First, do you know what happened to bring aboutthis meeting?”

Joshua nodded and shirked his shoulders at the sametime.

Susan interrupted, “I told him about the chimp andthe phalaenopsis-fosteriana cross.” Anyone but a feweccentric people overhearing that sentence wouldhave no clue what that meant and would have shakentheir heads. Everyone at the table smiled when thosewords were spoken as they effectively opened thedialogue’s door.

At this juncture, Gort motioned to the bartender whoshrugged at the waitress to handle the table. Shedarted to their service and returned with their order inno time. The waitress had previously been instructedto give that table undivided attention. She alwaysadhered to the bartender’s request as many nightstabulations ended with his decision of how to dividethe credit card tips. Something she knew could bemore equitable if he was treated properly and withoutquestion.

“So you have heard about our ability to advanceMother Nature. To take her where even she hasnot been before. To perhaps accelerate whatDarwin would be deem inevitable or even perhapsto make the unfit survive and evolve. Whatever theconclusion may be, we can create beauty whichnature had not. And, as you may know, peoplewho adore plants and nature’s bountiful productionof the natural production, they also want theobscure. Do you understand?”

Joshua nodded.

“Let me put it to you more simply. Have you seenthose bright blue orchids being sold in stores andon the streets?”

Joshua nodded.

“Gort continued, “They sell for $20 a plant. Theyare punks. Simple white phalaenopsis which isworth $6 on the street. But, some bozo injects themwith dye. And, the plant grows blue. On gamedays, he injects them with green and orange forUM fans. Blue and orange for the Gator fans. Alladapted with a simple nickle of dye. And, he gets$14 more a plant because of that gimmick. Do yousee what people do when they have something thatis a little unique? They spend.”

Joshua nodded.

“Our plans are not a gimmick. They are not asimple game plan which any second grader canmanipulate. We are making headway on a creationwhich will befuddle the experts for years. All thewhile holding complex patents over the processand plants. Being a monopoly of the supply. Prohibiting others from sharing the wealth for 7 ormore years, using cloning and other acceleratemanners of multiplying the supply of theseamazing plants, we could sell millions each year.At prices of $100 per plant minimum. Get thepoint? Then another plant, with another patent withanother 7-year exclusivity. And, so forth. At theend of the day, we sit back and go to the basementand count the money while others sate their need toown the exclusive item by spending what wouldamount to a fine dinner at a 3-star restaurant. Doyou see this?”

Joshua nodded.

Gort looked deeply into Joshua’s eyes until he wasconvinced the silent but nodding person seatedacross from him did understand. Then he raised hishand looked at Marin and Susan and said, “Let uspray to live another day so that we can see thesuccess of the cross.”