Compiled and Contributed by Peg Revell
The Kentucky Orchid Society is very fortunate to have had a group of dedicated and enthusiastic members who have kept a careful record of its history.
Who had the idea of forming an orchid society that still would be thriving so many years later? The minutes don’t tell us. Rather than a written history I have chosen to select some of the most interesting events of the past for your enjoyment.
The Early Years
On November 6, 1958, sixty-three people interested in orchids held a meeting in the Medical Arts Building in downtown Louisville. Preceding the meeting, an article about the new group written by Cissy Gregg was published in the Courier-Journal. The Kentucky Orchid Society was formed. Clara Fanelli was elected President and Eugene Hartmann was chosen as Secretary-treasurer. Monthly meetings were to be held on the first Thursday. There were 20 paid members with a treasury of $35.50 at the end of the evening. The guest speaker was Gilbert Alberts.
The next meeting was held at the University of Louisville with 50 people present.
In January of 1959, there were fifty-five people present at the Pendennis Club. The Kentucky Orchid Society was designated an affiliated Society in the American Orchid Society. The program was about corsages and French bouquets.
In March the group took an afternoon bus trip to Lexington to see Bluegrass Orchids.
The Hartmann’s showed slides from their trip to the Tennessee Capital Orchid Show in Nashville in April.
The Society is back to the Medical Arts Building.
The July and August meetings were eliminated at the May meeting and a movie was shown on cymbidiums.
A dinner meeting was held at the Brown Suburban Hotel.
The 60s
At the January meeting of 1960, it was announced that Liberty Bank had asked the Society to have an orchid show in a new downtown office. The Society declined the invitation due to its lack of materials and experience. The KOS became a member in the Mid-America Orchid Congress.
The March meeting was snowed out.
The Hartmann’s held an open house for forty members.
Cattleya culture was the subject of the May meeting.
The Karl Young’s held an open house for the Society.
The subject in December was on corsages.
In January of 1961, forty-seven members were present.
By February, there were forty-seven in attendance. The meeting was concerned about how to create an orchid display for the orchid show to be held in Nashville. Craig Foster of Bluegrass Orchids in Lexington spoke on how to arrange displays.
The KOS prepared its first exhibit at a show. Thirty-one members attended the Mid-America Orchid Congress and Tennessee Capitol Orchid Show in Nashville. The exhibit received a special blue ribbon award and one plant was given a silver award.
KOS members visited a member’s greenhouse in April and again in May. The speaker came from the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate.
An invitation was accepted to arrange a display of orchids for the opening for The Mall in March.
Meeting was held at the Essex House.
In June the first of many greenhouse tours was begun.
July saw the first official picnic. Bingo was played and orchids were the awards for the winners.
In February of 1963, another greenhouse and open house was held. There was a discussion on whether to hold a judged show.
April saw a greenhouse tour. The subject of the May meeting was the Physiology of Orchids.
The KOS became a member in the Mid-America Orchid Congress.
The March meeting was snowed out.
The Hartmann’s held an Open House for forty members.
Cattleya Culture was the subject of the May meeting.
The Karl Young’s held an Open House for the Society.
The subject in December was preparing corsages.
In January of 1961, forty-seven members were present.
In February, there were forty-seven in attendance. The meeting was concerned about how to create an orchid display for the orchid show to be held in Nashville. Craig Foster of Bluegrass Orchids in Lexington spoke on how to arrange displays.
The KOS prepared its first exhibit at a show. Thirty-one members attended the Mid- America Orchid Congress and Tennessee Capitol Orchid Show in Nashville. The exhibit received a special blue ribbon award and one plant was given a silver award.
Members visited a member’s greenhouse in April and again in May. The speaker came from the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate.
An invitation was accepted to arrange a display of orchids for the opening for The Mall in March.
The Society met at the Essex House.
In June the first of many greenhouse tours was begun.
July saw the first official picnic. Bingo was played and orchids were the awards for the winners.
In February of 1963, another greenhouse and open house was held
There was a discussion on whether to hold a judged show.
April saw a greenhouse tour.
The subject of the May meeting was the Physiology of Orchids.
The Orchids of Costa Rica was the topic of the June meeting.
In November of 1963, miniature orchids were discussed. Also it was decided to produce a Society Directory.
January of 1964 began with a speaker on orchid arrangements.
The Society met at Hasenour’s. The first KOS stationery was obtained. Members learned how to pack orchids for shipping in a meeting at the Kosair Temple.
August brought a program on Orchid Seeds.
In September the topic was Judging Orchids.
Miniature Orchids was the subject in October.
In June the first of many greenhouse tours was begun.
July saw the first official picnic. Bingo was played and orchids were the awards for the winners.
Twenty-eight members took a bus trip to Indianapolis for a Patio Orchid Show and to see Mills Greenhouses.
The subject in April was My Ten Years as a Grower.
Fertilization and spraying was the next topic.
As always, a program on Diseases & Pests brought out a large crowd.
A slide program of orchids was shown during dinner at Kaelin’s.
1966 began with dinner at Dumesnil House and slides of various greenhouses.
Kentucky Orchid Society 