Brandon Tam is an expert on orchids and stands next to a Cymbidium Pauwelsii ‘Kessander.’
Need a breather from insurance and idiotic L.A. City shenanigans? Think Paphiopedilums and go into orchid land. Brandon Tam will be the guest speaker at this Malibu Orchids Society Zoom meeting at 7 p.m. on January 20. His topic is “Paphiopedilum Culture According to the Huntington.”
Tam will provide a practical overview of the best practices for growing Paphiopedilums drawing from his experience cultivating them at the Huntington Botanic Garden. While many approaches exist to growing these slipper orchids, Tam will share his successes and lessons, and what have been shown to be most effective practices with regard to their care and cultivation at the Huntington.
Tam began managing the orchid collection at the Huntington when he was 16 and 18 years later is now the Associate Curator of the Orchid Collection. He oversees one of the largest and most diverse collections of orchids worldwide — the collection has grown from 2,000 to 10,000 plants in the last decade and comprises 3,600 unique varieties of orchids which represent 280 genera, 2,200 hybrids and 1,500 species.
In his day-to-day work he is responsible for curatorial operations which include horticultural operations, orchid acquisitions, propagation, conservation and supervision of more than 40 volunteers. He is also tasked with coordinating numerous public and educational events which include orchid shows, judging and conferences. To attend the meeting click here. and the id is 835 4738 3303
Paphiopedilums will be the January topic for the Malibu Orchid Society.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
(Editor’s note: Although it is called the Malibu Orchid Society, the club met in Pacific Palisades first at the Woman’s Club, starting in 1996 and then in the Methodist Church on Via de la Paz until it burned in the January 2025 fires. The club has members from Malibu, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Venice and the Westside. President Dr. Birute Anne Vileisis also lost her Malibu home in the Palisades Fire. http://www.malibuorchidsociety.org/ )
Happy New Year 2026 and to another year of growing orchids! On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to extend our best wishes to our MOS family for another year of discovery and deepening our knowledge of growing orchids.
2026 marks our 63rd year as a Society. Hugo Freed, renown orchid hybridizer and lecturer, founded the Malibu Orchid Society in the Spring of 1963. He was the general manager of Arthur Freed’s Orchids on Bonsall Drive in Malibu. The group had eight charter members, including Amado Vazquez, the head grower on the orchid ranch, and Madelaine Fobert, who served as membership secretary for 20 years. The group began hosting meetings at various locations, including local homes and restaurants.
In 1974, Hugo Freed retired and sold the orchid ranch to Vazquez, and it became Zuma Canyon Orchids.
Little could Freed and the early Society founders have imagined the resilience of our Society. Together we have braved a number of obstacles [Covid and Fires] and continue to carry on. With the support of our members, we hope to have many more years of growing together to strengthen our MOS family bond.
Thank you to all who have sent in your dues. For those of you who are on your way with them, Thank you as well. As the reminder email noted, you can pay through PayPal or by sending a check to Coral.
Thank you to the AOS Judges Group of Southern California and Gayle Brodie for their generous assistance in helping us secure terrific Zoom speakers so we could continue to meet on Zoom in the past year and now.
This year we start out with Brandon Tam speaking on Growing Paphs. In February we welcome Fred Clarke to help us become 80% orchid growers. March brings Tim Culbertson with a topic to be determined.
We look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming Zoom meetings.
Birute
IN MEMORIUM
ANNETTE ROSILLI
September 16, 1939 – January 9, 2025
On the anniversary of her passing, we fondly remember our dear friend Annette. She was an excellent cattleya grower. Her kindness and lovely manner remains with us as we think of the many contributions Annette made to MOS over the years. We miss you, Annette!
(Editor’s note: the story about Rosilli was published in the Los Angeles Daily News on January 17, 2025 and written by Christina Merino.)
Annette Rossilli, 85, died in Palisades fire after resisting evacuation offers to stay with her pets
Neighbors, church friends and caregivers tried several times to help Rossilli leave her longtime home in Pacific Palisades, but she declined
Bubbly, happy, friendly — Annette Rossilli was known for her love of orchids, her pets and her purple hair.
Rossilli, 85, was a longtime resident of the Pacific Palisades who died in the fire that raged through her community.
The devoted pet owner stayed in her home after evacuation orders were issued on Tuesday, Jan. 7, to be with her pets — a dog named Greetly, a canary named Pepper, two parrots and a turtle. Neighbors, church friends and caregivers tried multiple times to help Rossilli evacuate, but she declined.
“Such a lovely lady,” said Fay Vahdani, the owner of Luxe Homecare, the home health care agency that provided care for Rossilli three days a week due to her mobility issues. “Very sweet and had been living at that house for many years. It is where she raised her children.”
Rossilli is survived by a daughter and son who live out of state, Vahdani said in a phone interview.
The longtime Pacific Palisades resident ran a plumbing business in the area for many years with her late husband. After he died, Rossilli continued to live in the same home.
Rossilli also was a cherished member of the Community United Methodist Church on Via de la Paz, which burned down in the wildfire. The Rev. John Shaver said Rossilli meant a lot to many church members, according to the United Methodist News.
She also volunteered with the Pacific Palisades Orchid Society and the United Women in Faith groups.
Vhadani said the last time she saw Rossilli was late last month, when she delivered holiday cookies to her house.
“She was so thankful to me for sending her a great caregiver to take care of her,” Vhadani said. “She was so grateful for what we were doing for her.”
The Luxe Homecare team and her caregiver got in contact with Rossilli multiple times letting her know that they would help her evacuate, but Rossilli kept declining. She wanted to stay behind to care for her beloved pets, Vhadani said.
“We tried, her neighbors tried,” Vhadani said. “She kept saying no.”
After the fire roared through the Pacific Palisades community, destroying thousands of homes as well as the Luxe Homecare office, firefighters later found Rossilli’s body on Jan. 8, according to Vahdani.
Those who knew Rossilli said they would remember their beloved neighbor, friend and patient.
“She was very bubbly, happy and friendly, and will be deeply missed,” Vhadani said.