Meeting – July 11, 2016 – Bill Thoms

Renowned orchid grower, world traveler and internationally recognized speaker Bill Thoms will be presenting a talk on Bulbophyllums (the largest genus in the orchid world!) Be prepared to learn more about this fascinating group of plants than you ever dreamed!

Bill Thoms and his wife, Doris Dukes, have been growing orchids around Central Florida for almost 40 years and have received almost every award granted by the AOS as well as more Awards for Culture than anyone else in the world, (83 in over 26 genera, including 36 in the bulbophyllum alliance (capped off with a 96 pt. Certificate of Cultural Excellence for Bulb. Frank Smith ‘The King’).

Bill is the only person to receive an Award of Quality for a Bulbophyllum hybrid (named for Doris) as well as receiving the hybridizer’s dream; an Award of Distinction for a new avenue of breeding (a Trias hybrid). Many of his crosses are winning awards around the country. The AOS has just added a yearly award named for him for the best Bulbophyllum exhibited.

His talks are spiced with funny stories and funny associations. Whether you grow thousands of orchids, only a few, or none at all, you will have a wonderfully entertaining time and be able to grow anything better. Many of the most important requirements for growing world class plants are made easy to understand and remember.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn how to grow these fascinating plants and to hear one of the most knowledgeable, interesting and funny speakers in the orchid world.

His new book, Bulbophyllums; the Incomplete Guide, From A to WHY? will be available for purchase ($44.95) and he will sign them for free.

Click here for meeting location and driving directions.