Orchid show and sale offers rare beauties
It’s time once again to celebrate one of the most exquisite plants on the planet. Next weekend, the Spokane Orchid Society will put orchids in the spotlight at its 27th annual Orchid Show and Sale.
A big change for this year’s show is that it will be in a new venue: Vicki’s Garden Center, 2100 S. Inland Empire Way.
Show chairman Jim Pearce and co-chair LaDonna Roles are excited to share the beauty of orchids with show attendees.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce orchids to the public,” Pearce said. “They will see the variety, the colors and the different growing environments they thrive in.”
“We want to let people know orchids aren’t delicate plants,” Roles added. “That’s the one thing we hear a lot, but orchids are really a houseplant and a friendly flower. It seems like everyone has had one at some time.”
Pearce pointed out how orchids can be grown on windowsills, in a basement under lights, outdoors during the temperate times of the year and in greenhouses. “There are also native orchids that overwinter in our climate,” he said.
Show attendees will have the opportunity to view more than 300 orchids that will be judged by the American Orchid Society.
“This year, we’re putting on a bench show in which the orchids will be displayed by color, genus and shape to make it easier for folks to compare them,” Pearce said. “They’ll find an orchid they like and then get the information they need to determine if it’s a good match for the conditions in their home.”
Orchids can be found in garden centers and grocery stores, but Pearce said the show offers the chance to view rarely seen orchids. “This includes some you’ll need a microscope to see,” he said.
In addition to the orchid display, visitors can purchase plants, fertilizers and planting medium from five regional vendors. There will be a vendor selling carnivorous plants as well.
Seminars will be held during the show, primarily on the hot topic of orchid culture, and society members will be on hand to answer questions.
“We’ve found many folks are afraid to repot their plants so they can bring them in to have them repotted,” Roles said. “They can either bring in or purchase a container and, for a small donation, have those plants moved into a new pot.”
Allison Smith, store manager for Vicki’s Garden Center, is looking forward to partnering with the Spokane Orchid Society to host the show and sale. Vicki’s is a fourth-generation, family-owned and -operated business that grows all of its plants from seed.
“The Orchid Show is a wonderful first introduction to spring,” Pearce said. “Seeing hundreds of blooms really makes you feel good and gets you into that spring mood. And if you want your blood pressure to drop by 20 points, just come to the show. It’ll make you feel good.”
The Spokane Orchid Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, except in August and December. For more information on membership, visit their web site at spokaneorchidsociety.org.