Status of SBOE?

[smweaver]

Does anyone know if Santa Barbara Orchid Estate is on their way out of the orchid business? I love this vendor, but I've noticed a number of concerning changes over the last couple of years. Their formerly vast cymbidium collection (well, at least to me it seemed vast) now appears to be drastically reduced. They also used to have an annual fall auction, but either I must have missed it this year or they didn't offer it. Their "orchid of day" selections also appear to have dwindled considerably in variety and number (with many consecutive days advertising the same plant).

I'm assuming that some of you Californians might have the scoop. And I'm really hoping that all of this is due to Covid, and that SBOE is still viable and going to be in business for a long time to come.

[Roberta]

As far as I know they are alive and well . Hunkered down for much longer than other vendors. They had a very limited open house the weekend that Calorchid had theirs, the first post COVID. I think they have one coming up.

[stonedragonfarms]

No auction this year--I believe that Paul Gripp's birthday party [90th I think...] & their autumn open-house are slated in lieu. I agree with you on the limited selections, from what I have been told by a few Cymbidium peeps, they didn't prop much from their collection due to the loss of walk-in/in-person business due to covid--so not a lot of plants listed on the site
I've missed the spring $7.50 specials; I used to get a potluck of sprouted Cymbidium backbulbs.