Current Projects

Orchids

I have been growing orchids for a few years. First, California native Epipactis gigantea outdoors. I first added a terrarium for intermediate tropical orchids, then a small (4x9") greenhouse/walk-in terrarium for additional intermediate species, and a new terrarium for warm-hot species. I am particularly interested in Oberonia and Notylia.

Available Presentation

Growing orchids in a terrarium.
Orchids require specific growing conditions. A terrarium can provide those specific conditions without the space and monetary expenditures of a full green house. The talk shows how to set-up a terrarium for orchids, and illustrates various plants that have been successfully grown in such a setting.
The topic has been written up for the American Orchid Society Orchids magazine in 2008 and 2012.
This talk has been given to a number of Orchid Societies, including Orchid Society of Santa Barbara, San Fernando Valley Orchid Society, Southern California Orchid Species Society, Malibu Orchid Society, South Coast Orchid Society, South Bay Orchid Society.

Systematics 101 for orchid aficionados
The changes in botanical names for orchids are often mystifying. I provide an understanding of how species are discovered, described, and accepted. I will also provide the audience with the understanding to read phylogenetic trees, so that one make an informed decision whether the proposed changes are sensible or not.
The topic is being written up for a short series of publications in the Cymbidium Society of America Journal.
The talk has been given to the Orchid Society of Santa Barbara. It may be given at the joint AOS/Southland Orchid Show in 2013 at the Huntington Garden, Pasadena.

Imaging small orchid flowers
As a professional microscopist and photographer who sells stock photographs I will show how to take images of small to minute orchid flowers. Techniques covered are SLR macrophotography, stereomicroscope imaging and z-stacking, and scanning electron microscopy.
Principles of scientific photography have been written up in Geiger (2006), images have been exhibited at the Southland Orchid Show at the Huntington Garden, Pasadena, and a web article on z-stacking is available on the American Orchid Society webpage. A fruther article has been submitted to the Orchid Digest.
This talk has been given at the 2012 Southland Orchid Show at the Huntington Garden, Pasadena. It is scheduled for the December meeting of the Southern California Orchid Species Society and for a spring meeting of the Orchid Society of Santa Barbara.

Orchids I have been growing orchids for a few years. First, California native Epipactis gigantea outdoors. I first added a terrarium for intermediate tropical orchids, then a small (4x9") greenhouse/walk-in terrarium for additional intermediate species, and a new terrarium for warm-hot species. I am particularly interested in Oberonia and Notylia. Available Presentation Growing orchids in a terrarium. Orchids require specific growing conditions. A terrarium can provide those specific conditions without the space and monetary expenditures of a full green house. The talk shows how to set-up a terrarium for orchids, and illustrates various plants that have been successfully grown in such a setting. The topic has been written up for the American Orchid Society Orchids magazine in 2008 and 2012. This talk has been given to a number of Orchid Societies, including Orchid Society of Santa Barbara, San Fernando Valley Orchid Society, Southern California Orchid Species Society, Malibu Orchid Society, South Coast Orchid Society, South Bay Orchid Society. Systematics 101 for orchid aficionados The changes in botanical names for orchids are often mystifying. I provide an understanding of how species are discovered, described, and accepted. I will also provide the audience with the understanding to read phylogenetic trees, so that one make an informed decision whether the proposed changes are sensible or not. The topic is being written up for a short series of publications in the Cymbidium Society of America Journal. The talk has been given to the Orchid Society of Santa Barbara. It may be given at the joint AOS/Southland Orchid Show in 2013 at the Huntington Garden, Pasadena. Imaging small orchid flowers As a professional microscopist and photographer who sells stock photographs I will show how to take images of small to minute orchid flowers. Techniques covered are SLR macrophotography, stereomicroscope imaging and z-stacking, and scanning electron microscopy. Principles of scientific photography have been written up in Geiger (2006), images have been exhibited at the Southland Orchid Show at the Huntington Garden, Pasadena, and a web article on z-stacking is available on the American Orchid Society webpage. A fruther article has been submitted to the Orchid Digest. This talk has been given at the 2012 Southland Orchid Show at the Huntington Garden, Pasadena. It is scheduled for the December meeting of the Southern California Orchid Species Society and for a spring meeting of the Orchid Society of Santa Barbara.