Bromelia Contactgroep (BCG)
P/a Botanische Tuinen
Budapestlaan 17
3584 CD Utrecht

ABN-AMRO IBAN: NL66 ABNA0421855185 tel.030-253 9281

From Newsletter 80 - May 2015

Report on the Spring Meeting on Sunday April 12th 2015.

Twenty-eight members met together in the conservatory of the Utrecht Botanical Garden on this spring day. They enjoyed a delicious cup of coffee, while admiring the many plants brought for the plant review, before the meeting started around 11am.

At 11am the short house-keeping meeting began, with E.J. Gouda, chairman, P. van Beest, treasurer, and R. Tomassen, secretary, present on behalf of the Board.

The chairman welcomed everyone. This time he had no announcements to make, nor had anything come in that needed consideration. He did, however, want to start by thanking MaryRose Hoare for the help she had given so far by translating the newsletters into English. He accompanied these words with a lovely Bromeliad (Bilbergia x chlorophylla) and a scrumptious box of chocolates. Both were very much appreciated!

Fig. 1 & 2 Impressions of the meeting in the conservatory, photos by Roel Tomassen

The treasurer then passed round a membership list asking those present to check the details for correctness and completeness. The secretary then made an announcement about the planned visit to the Westermann Bromeliad nursery, in Uelsen in Germany, on Saturday June 20th. Those interested could register with him. There would soon be a separate newsletter about it [already appeared as nr. 79, ed.].

An attempt will be made to organize an autumn excursion to the Holm nursery (Orchids, Tillandsias) in Bedburg Hau, Germany. There will be further news about this visit in due course.

The report of the Autumn Meeting of September 21st 2014 (newsletter 77) was approved, unaltered, by those members present.

The treasurer then went through the summary of the BCG's finances that had been sent round. The members had no questions or comments about it. The audit committee, consisting of members H. Willems and G. van Heusden, had checked the financial administration and found it correct. On their advice, those members present approved the treasurer's report. For 2015, the audit committee checking the financial administration will comprise members H. Willems and E.P. Gerritse.

Fig. 3 & 4 Plants for the plant review, photo by Roel Tomassen

In Other Business, Ed Gerritse drew attention to the upcoming 50-year jubilee of the Utrecht Orchid Circle (Orchideeënkring Utrecht). This will be celebrated on the afternoon of Sunday May 31st with an exhibition in Fort Blauwkapel. A BCG (board) representation would be heartily welcome. For further information contact E.P.Gerritse epgerritse@gmail.com.

Albert Ebbink asked whether anyone was interested in the Plumerias which are getting too large for his conservatory. For more information, contact him at al.ebbink@kpnmail.nl.

After this, Eric Gouda reviewed the many plants members had brought along, followed by some plants from the display in the Botanical Gardens. Aechmea tayoensis (from Araflora, fig.4); Bromelia flemingii; Deuterocohnia longipetala (from Ed Brinkkemper see fig.6); Guzmania ronhoffiana; Pitcairnia sp.nov. (fig.8) ; Racinae crispa; and the Tillandsia species: latifolia var. divaricata; reducta; straminea; cardenasii; pueblensis (a seedling of Eric's, flowering for the first time!); hitchcockiana; tortilis var. curvifolia (name is now T. curvifolia); streptophylla; heteromorpha; vernicosa; klausii; helmuttii; krahnii; floribunda and, finally, Vriesea 'Splenriet'.

Gerard van Heusden showed us two more of his plastic ropes with bromeliads attached to them.

Fig. 5 & 6 Plant review in the Conservatory, photo by Roel Tomassen

After this we moved on to auctioning the many plants that thereby found new owners.

After the lunch-break, Art Vogel took us across Mexico on a journey entitled 'A botanical tour led by Jeff Chemnick where the emphasis will be on a number of Cycadales locations, including Ceratozamia, Zamia and Dioon species in widely differing habitats'. This interesting journey, with beautiful images of flora and fauna enjoyably presented and explained by Art, closed the Spring meeting of our Group.

Fig. 7, 8 & 9 photos by Roel Tomassen

The chairman thanked Art for his fascinating talk and gave him a “tasty” token of appreciation. He then thanked everyone for their attendance and wished them a safe journey home.

Roel Tomassen: text
Eric Gouda: layout

Translation: MaryRose Hoare