A Note from Our President: “The Heart of Texas Orchid Society is Powered by Volunteers” Last month’s 2025 “Carnival of Orchids” Show and Sale was a tremendous success. In addition to thanking the members of the Heart of Texas Orchid Society, we extend our appreciation to the greater orchid community. Growers from all over Central Texas exhibited stunning orchids and lent a hand with setting up the bench displays. American Orchid Society Judges traveled from San Antonio, Houston, DFW and Wichita, Kansas to judge the 100+ orchids that entered in the show. Working together for a common interest is the epitome of society and volunteerism. As we move into warmer months, our orchids are actively growing and HOTOS will be active too. National Garden Week takes place from June 1st – 7th, 2025. HOTOS members will lead our annual orchid grower’s workshop “Growing Beautiful Orchids” from 10am-1pm on Saturday, June 7th in the auditorium at Zilker Botanical Garden. Watch the Zilker Botanical Garden’s website for details. Newer orchid hobbyists will save money by learning how not to kill orchids! In keeping with tradition, HOTOS takes a “vacation” from our usual meeting format in July. Our members (+ One guest) will enjoy a private picnic in the garden on Tuesday, July 7th, 2025. This is a wonderful time to show off your culinary “chops,” socialize to your hearts content and admire Austin’s ever-changing skyline. Please remember that without volunteers, our society would not exist! Beginning in May, we will be actively recruiting 2026’s leadership team. I ask you to take a step up in our society. Choose a role that interests you and that matches the amount of time you have to offer. If you are curious but do not want to over-commit, think about these options: promoting us on social media, setting up the A/V equipment or becoming the head of hospitality. Fun fact: my first step was making the coffee and putting out water pitchers. All you need to do is be willing to take that first step. Pat Pingleton HOTOS President April 29, 2025 |
Next Meeting: Mark Your Calendars!
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - Bulbophyllum orchids: Growing and Showing Specimen Plants - Bill Thoms (NC)
Bill Thoms and his wife, Doris Dukes, have received more AOS awards for Culture than anyone else in the world. The total is 105 so far in 30 genera with 52 in his specialty area, the Bulbophyllum alliance. He will be presenting a talk covering Growing Specimen Plants in depth and will include secret and not-so-secret tips on producing and presenting plants to their best advantage. He will show dozens of pictures of his award winners with comments on how they were produced and how to avoid potential problems. Added in will be lots of tips on general culture of all orchids whether giant plants or new seedlings. Come see and hear one of the best, and most humble, growers in the world, (so he says). He will have a book he wrote on Bulbophyllums and info on obtaining his eBook, which is 5 years’ worth of videos covering every aspect of growing lots of different genera; all his articles written for magazines around the world; a 1500 picture photo library in incredible detail; and videos of repotting everything from flasks to dividing giant plants. Have you stopped receiving emails about upcoming meetings and events? It may be because we did not receive your membership renewal. There are three easy options for renewing:
Treasurer, HOTOS 7232 CR 120 Marble Falls, TX 78654 Checks should be made payable to HOTOS. Individual membership is $35. For two people at the same address, $50 SHARE YOUR ORCHID PHOTOS WITH US!
Click here to share a photo Follow us on Instagram @heartoftxorchids You can also find us on Facebook This is Paph. Hawaiian Moonlight 'Crescent Silver' (White Promise x Hawaiian Moon), grown by Ronal Infante.
It received an HCC of 78 last Sunday at our monthly judging (for which folks brought an amazing 24 plants). 
This C. Luddemania var. Rubra was grown by Pat Pingleton, the society's Vice President.
This award-winning orchid was grown by Alison Gallaway. It is named Blc. Memoria Ruth Gallaway AM/AOS. Alison took her plant for judging and was awarded the AM/AOS designation and earned the right to name this hybrid.
This was a seedling given to all members as part of a contest in 2022. The first to bloom the plant was Steve Jeffers, and he received a $100 prize. 
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