American Orchid Society? - Orchid Board

wolcottaj · #1 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 05:47 PM

Has anyone been to the American Orchid Society here in FL? I am thinking of taking the family there sometime soon. Just wondering if there is anything I should see.
Andy

Oscarman · #2 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 07:31 PM

Never been - the center was not yet open when I was in Florida. If you are a member - entry is free. If you are not a member, they had temporarily reduced entry fee for all others, due to Hurricane Wilma damage.

If your not a member, get a friend who is a member to recruit you and both of you will get a free 4' orchid. There is more info in the Jan AOS magazine "Orchids" If you don't know a member and they ship to Canada, I am a member................. :wink:

wolcottaj · #3 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 07:42 PM

A family member of someone I work for is up there in the society I guess. So I may work that route to be recruited.
Also I was told her orchid collection is crazy (over run with orchids). I am trying to see if I will be able to go see her personal collection. During the Hurricane she was worried more about her orchids then herself and her house. So it is probably worth seeing.
When I go I will take plenty of pics to share with everyone.
Andy

Sandra Billeter · #4 (**permalink**) 03-01-2006, 03:05 PM

We've been there and it is interesting. You have an outdoor garden exhibit you walk through and a greenhouse that is interesting. You also can look into their research GH but not enter. They have a giftshop where you can buy plants, books, supplies, etc. If you're interested in membership, go to www.AOS.org and find the sign up place. If you pay a 2 year membership, you get a $30 certificate you can redeem at a list of places as long as you buy $100 worth of orchids. The monthly journal is well worth the membership. Also, JEM orchids is about 1/2 mile away from the center so you'll probably want to stop there, too. There is also a website, www.orchidmall.com (I think) that has a section labelled "plant sources" that gives you an alphabetic listing of the AOS approved sources throughout the country. If you're driving you might want to stop at some other sources along your route and this would help you find some.

Sandra in South Carolina