Grand Valley Orchid Society Show, Grand Rapids, MI, look what followed me home...

[fyschebone]

A Phragmipedium besseae in bud; (no picture)

Catt. 'paradise' (Blc. Hawaiian Passion x. Blc. Sakurahime)

and Bl. Rustic Spots


I couldn't stick around to see the results of the judging, but the plants on sale were show enough. Wish I'd had more time (and money)

[quiltergal]

Oooh! Love that yellow and white catt! Very nice.

[Ross]

Really sorry we couldn't get down there this year, but the roads are still terrible up here. Great finds you made. I heard the show was a bit light on vendors this year?

[fyschebone]

I'd not been to the show before, so I don't have any basis for comparison. There were at least 7 vendors there, and there would not have been room for many more tables. Lots of Phal. varieties, which I didn't find as exciting as the others plants available.

I couldn't find the Dendrobium you recommended, but Green Acres (Charlotte) said they had them in stock if I wanted to visit.

In addition to the folks at Green Acres, I enjoyed talking with Natt's Orchids (Naperville, IL) and Windswept In Time Orchids (Broadview Heights, OH). Friendly people, all around.

[Oldguypops]

I agree with quiltergal, I love the yellow and white Cat. Nice catch!

I'm looking forward to the Lansing show in a couple weeks as well as our home show on Palm Sunday. I'm saving up and making room.

How are prices at these shows, generally speaking. (I haven't been to one yet.) What is a good deal pricewise and when is the best time to go?

Great . Looking forward to seeing the Besseae.

Chris

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Oldguypops

How are prices at these shows, generally speaking.
Chris

Chris, the few shows I've been to the prices have been pretty good. There are lots of deals to be had if one looks around and doesn't buy the first thing. But stuff moves pretty fast. I usually have a budget in mind and stick with that. I plan to aim for the Lansing show next, weather permitting. Most of my "must haves" are from Hoosier Orchids, so it wouldn't have done much good to be in GR today even if I were able to.

[GreggC]

sincxe they followed you home, did you have to ask if you could keep 'em or not?

[cb977]

Great choices...I LOVE that C Paradise!
It is now a "must-have" for me...

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Oldguypops

I'm looking forward to the Lansing show in a couple weeks as well as our home show on Palm Sunday. I'm saving up and making room.

How are prices at these shows, generally speaking. (I haven't been to one yet.) What is a good deal pricewise and when is the best time to go?
Chris

Originally Posted by Ross

Chris, the few shows I've been to the prices have been pretty good. There are lots of deals to be had if one looks around and doesn't buy the first thing. But stuff moves pretty fast. I usually have a budget in mind and stick with that.

Chris, I agree with Ross. If nothing else you aren't wasting money on postage & you get to see/inspect the actual plant you are buying.

Oh, and with the 'postage' thing in mind, if there is a plant you really want from a vender that is going to attend a show, email them ahead of time and ask them to bring it along. That way you avoid paying postage.

Price-wise, as with anything else, it varies. Porter's Orchids often has some nice stuff but, IMO, is usually overpriced. Natt's is not cheap but they have great plants. Hoosier's can be expensive too, but they may have hard to find items that one else has. Oakhill usually has the best prices but don't always have those 'special' or 'unique' items you may have been looking for. Rob [Little Frog] and his cohort in crime, Alex, generally very good prices too.

BTW, if you're hunting for mini's for the first time, don't expect them to be cheaper than the standard sized plants -- in most cases they'll cost just as much.

As Ross mentioned -- shop around. It isn't uncommon for more than 1 vender to have the same orchids but different prices. Also I'd say -- assuming you have some particular hybrids or species in mind -- even shop a bit on the NET to see what the plant would sell for elsewhere [but don't forget to include shipping costs in your price comparision].

As for best time ........
Some folks like to go at the end of a show since venders will sometimes knock off a couple bucks so they don't have to take a plant home. [But don't expect 1/2 off deals or anything like that. Only time you're likely to see that is when you have venders coming from truly great distances like Asia, Europe, Hawaii, etc.] Another possible plus is that at the end of the show, a vender might be willing to sell off their display plants at the selling tables since by the next show the flowers could be past their prime. There is a downside to waiting, however. By the end of the show, plants have all been picked over. The best are generally long gone.

Personally, I like to go & help at set up because, not only do I enjoy it, but also on account of I get "first crack" at what the venders bring. There are times in which plants are snapped up long before the general public ever gets a shot at them.

For example, last year at the Meijer Gardens show, I knew I wanted to get a Macodes petola [awesome foliage!]. Several venders had them. Most wanted $15 for a 2" pot or $25 for a 4" pot with a couple decent growths. Knowing that it often pays to wait until all the venders have arrived, I waited for Oakhill. They had lushly filled out 4 inch pots for $15. [I, of course, got one from them.] The general public never even got a chance -- they were all gone that evening. None of those big plants were around by the time the show opened then next morning.

Btw, I understand that the Livonia show isn't going to be in the mall this year. [Thank goodness!] Do you happen to have any info on where it will be held?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Paul

Btw, I understand that the Livonia show isn't going to be in the mall this year. [Thank goodness!] Do you happen to have any info on where it will be held?

How about MICHIGAN ORCHID SOCIETY (MOS)