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Welcome To Rex Foxter Orchids |
 Welcome to Rex Foster Orchids in Lemon Grove, a small town just outside of Downtown San Diego. The climate is great here for growing many genera of orchids in homes, patios, and under shade cloth structures.
Originally started by Rex Foster back in the 60's, he collected plants from growers and hybridizers all over Southern California. As his collection increased, people sought his knowledge of growing many varieties in this climate. New plants that he introduced to the San Diego County Orchid Society were representative of selections from Stewarts, Rod McLellan, Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, Dos Pueblos, and many others. He started a hybridizing program and developed many fine crosses.
John Walters took over the business in 1970, continuing the development of the earlier hybrids. He had brought to San Diego many plants from Stewarts and Armacost & Royston. These combined with other local growers gave an enlarged gene pool for "hybridizers unanimous" and many stimulating discussions motivated new hybrids. Several of these hybrids in the Cattleya Alliance: Panache Classic, Panache Brilliance, Mem. Matthew Wise, French Cream, and a host of others that are currently used in RFO hybrideizing.
In recent years John has brought in some new hybridizing partners, who also have a passion for colorful orchids, and an unlimited curiosity about the potential of new varieties, and the motto: ENJOY ORCHIDS!
Billy Baker has made a lot of crosses with odontoglossums, odontiodas, and has returned to cattleyas, mainly the minis and small catts. Although, in the months and years to come, you may see some new and exiting colors coming from his oncidium and tolumnia crosses...coming up for sale.
Also joining the Rex Foster growers is Julian Bromfield. He has collected some of the finest plants from around the country that he is using with some of the established hybrids at the nursery. Some of his hybrids have shown his keen sense of flower design and color.
LOOKING TO THE NEAR FUTURE. There are some exciting hybrids already in the system by Billy, who purchased a large group of the Littman hybrids. Dr. Allan Littman was a 'genius' hybridizer from Australia, who created the DAL's hybrids. Billy has been crossing these with some of the wonderful plants from the Rex Foster hybrids.
George Tubon has been working with epidendrums for several years, creating Kirchara George, a nice red, and Mandarin Blossom. While not at Mesa College he helps with our show displays. |
