An early bird selecting plants for the auction

We had a show and tell contest last month and the winner in the most beautiful plant category was Andy Price and the most bizarre was won by Dr. Helen Dexter.

Fay O'Rourke, Marty Baxley and Michael Kiehl were on a panel, which answered questions from the audience. There was a good variety of questions from the members present and probably more questions than we had time for as it turned out. These experienced growers shared their expertise with the other members.

The Refreshment committee wants to thank the Jean Schnabel, Steve Littlefield, Bill Sneeden and Phyllis Steil for bringing the refreshments to last month's meeting.

Adelle Blackman, Fay O'Rourke and the Boyntons will be bringing refreshments for the May meeting. Sara wants to thank them for signing up in advance. Remember to stop by the front desk when you bring food to pick up your extra raffle ticket. You will also find the sign-up sheet at this desk.

This is always a special meeting where everyone brings their best extra bromeliads to donate to the auction. The funds go into the treasury and are shared with bromeliad related charities like Bromeliad Identification and the BSI color fund.

We ask members to bring better plants, but the plants must me healthy, clean and labeled. Please start getting some plants prepared for this very special event. We will also have a raffle, so smaller plants, pups, etc. will also be accepted. The things that we need are plants, volunteer workers, invite guests and bring money. I am sure that you will find some nice plants that you would like to take home with you.

We have been invited for a special tour of his bromeliad nursery on the First Dirt Road in Venice. It will start between 10:00 and 11:00 and go on until everyone wants to go home, probably between 3:00 and 4:00. It is an informal thing that is "a bring your own lunch" special event. Michael and Donna will have drinks and a shady spot to sit.

If you need directions I am sure that you can call Fay and she can give you directions, or if you have connection to the internet, check out Yahoo maps and type in 973 First Dirt Rd., Venice, Fl 34292. The first time we scheduled this event it was a very poor day weather wise, so we are trying it again. We hope to have a better turnout this time. It is an opportunity to see what Michael has been able to do with Don Beadle's nursery.

I received notification that Anna C. Watkins has moved to Heritage House, 1810 South Belcher Road, Clearwater, Fl 33764. We want to wish her well in her new abode and thank her for her many years of active participation in the society.

The Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies held its quarterly meeting on April 12 in Dania Beach; the Bromeliad Society of Broward County hosted the meeting in conjunction with its annual show and sale.

The Treasure Coast Bromeliad Society has rejoined the Council, bringing the number of member societies to twelve.

A new feature has been added to the Florida Council’s web site at fcbs.org. Bromeliad Biota features pictures of animals and insects that live in bromeliads. Look for it on the menu on the left hand side of the opening page of the web site. Florida Council Bylaws, a list of affiliates and their upcoming events as well as pictures, cultural information, minutes of meetings, a history of the Council, and searchable databases are all available at fcbs.org.

(Evil) Mexican Bromeliad Weevil Moves Further North / Seed Collecting Season Starts In Dr. Barbara Larson’s report on the (Evil) Mexican Bromeliad Weevil, she asked for suggestions of bromeliads used in yards for testing with the weevil. She and Dr. Howard Frank want to determine in which commonly used bromeliads (outdoors in landscapes) the weevil will lay eggs and develop. If you would like to know which one of your bromeliads might be susceptible to the weevil, email the names to Dr. Larson at BCLarson@mail.ifas.ufl.edu . Dr. Larson also announced that the weevil has been discovered in north Melbourne, in Brevard County. Prime seed collecting season is starting. This is an effort to collect seeds from those native bromeliads that are endangered by the weevil. If you would like to assist in this project, contact Dr. Larson at the email address above.

BSI Judges School Scheduled

Bromeliad Judging School #3 is being held on May 31 in Ft. Myers. If you are interested in becoming a Bromeliad Society International Judge, you do not have to take the schools in order; you may pick up any missed schools as they are offered. School #2 will be offered during the World Conference in Chicago in 2004. Betty Ann Prevatt is the contact for this school; there is still time to sign up. Betty Ann can be contacted at bprevattpcc@aol.com .

Extravaganza

Bromeliad Society of South Florida may host the Extravaganza this fall; a decision will be made by the next Council meeting. Florida West Coast Society will host in 2004; Sarasota Bromeliad Society will host in 2005.

FCBS Membership Survey

Look for a membership survey in an upcoming issue of the Council’s newsletter. It is intended to gauge members’ interest in the services provided by the Council as well as offer suggestions for other ways in which the Council can serve its members.

FCBS July Meeting

Bromeliad Society of Central Florida will host the next Florida Council meeting on July 12.

We are an affiliate member of the Council and if you have any questions see Roland Schnabel, this year's president or Bob Dalzell.

John Anderson was well known as Don Beadle's side-kick. They were close friends in Texas before Don moved to Florida. John made a number of collection trips with Wally Berg. He was well known and loved by many members of this club.

Last year at the World Conference John and Don put on quite a show at the Rare plant auction, but he was on oxygen and had to sit down a couple of times so we all knew that he was having health problems at that time. John was one of those real characters that you remembered and it was difficult to watch him fighting to stay active. The bromeliad world will just not be the same without John.