Merv and Sharon, please be polite to each other, and give each other a break. Whether you knew it or not, the two of you live within an hour drive of each other, and I assure you that if you met you would get along fine. Both of you love Paphs and Phrags. (which is how I know the two of you). As long as you agree to disagree on the AOS, I know you would get along well.
For us OGD'ers who don't like or don't bother with the AOS Forum, please keep in mind the AOS Forum serves the target market that the AOS wants to serve. That is the new orchid grower. Sharon, Ed Merkel, Ray Barklow, and several others really do a good, needed service trying to encourage the new growers. We need people to help the beginners get started. Without new recruits to the hobby, we would go the way of the dinosaurs. My hat is off to Sharon and the rest who take the time to answer the same questions, over and over again, without loosing patience. Thank you. Please, we should come out of our Ivory Towers to help new hobby growers become sucessful orchid growers. As to my feelings regarding the AOS, I am very disappointed that the AOS focus is so strongly orientated to the absolute beginner. However, the occasional "Lindleyana" type article in Orchids I really do appreciate, even though there are not enough for my taste. I also subscribe to Orchid Digest, that will have to do to fill the void that the AOS has left open. When the new growers get their feet on the ground and are ready to get a little more technical, hand them the subscription info for Orchid Digest. Leo _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
