Fakahatchee Swamp Walk
2022-10-15 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Save the date! Spot wild orchids on a swamp walk with Mike Owen, biologist for the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in Copeland on Oct. 15.
The adventure begins at 8 a.m. as we hop on a chartered coach to the park. Space will be limited. Look for details and ticket info coming soon.
– ALLEN COGAR
This swamp walk will immerse you in the beauty and diversity of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. FLOS members will be guided by either park staff or members of the Friends of the Fakahatchee. We will be wading in cool water for half a day observing the native wildlife and plants in the heart of the Fakahatchee. Possible orchid sightings are encyclia cochleata, the ghost orchid, corkscrew orchids, and many leafless orchids.
Swamp walkers should wear long pants and lace-up boots or sneakers – no sandals, waders or open-top boots. A hat and long-sleeved shirt are also recommended. Bring water, snacks, or lunch. Bring bug repellent if you are sensitive. Put anything you do not want to get wet in zip-lock plastic bags. Bring a set of dry clothes; you can change in the visitors restrooms for the drive home. Bring a walking stick if you have one; they will be provided as well.
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AOS judging at November 14 meeting
2022-11-14 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Can’t get to the regular monthly American Orchid Society
judging at the West Palm Beach Judging Center at Flamingo
Gardens in Davie? No problem! Judges will come to you at
FLOS’s Nov. 14 meeting.
AOS Judging centers offer outreach as part of its ongoing
commitment to demystify orchid judging. This service, both
practical and educational, is only available to AOS-affiliated
orchid societies. However, the public is invited to attend, and
can bring an orchid in for judging.
Teams of qualified AOS judges will be at the 7:30 p.m. meeting
along with the official AOS photographer. Clean up your best
plant and register it at 7 p.m.
There also will be an educational presentation on how the AOS
judging system works given by your scholarship recipient and
accredited judge Joan Connors.

“The Catasetum Alliance: a description of each genus and how to grow them”
2023-01-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Olivier is a hobbyist and orchids have become a passion/obsession for him. He focuses on species and primary hybrids (75% of his orchids) and grows many different genera but he is particularly fond of Catasetums, Trichocentrums and Stanhopeas.
Olivier has been a Board member of the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society (FLOS) since 2020. He has been a monthly newsletter contributor at FLOS since 2018. He also started a YouTube channel two years ago called “Orchid House, Fort Lauderdale, Florida” which features growing tips for specific species or genera.
Olivier has received two AM/AOS & one FCC/AOS award from the American Orchid Society.
Olivier has a Bachelor degree in Finance and Economics and has been a Fort Lauderdale-based realtor since 2013.

Luis M. Ortiz Jordan B.S., M.S.E.M. "How to Grow Miniature Orchids in South Florida"
2023-02-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Our February featured speaker will be Luis Manuel Ortiz Jordan, an expert on growing miniature orchids.
Luis has been growing orchids for more than 20 years, since he was 12. He discovered his love for orchids after his grandfather gave him his first plant, Cattleya dowiana. When it bloomed, he was infected with the orchid virus.
Luis has a mixed collection of orchids with numerous awards from the American Orchid Society, but his passion lies in cool-growing miniatures. They can be a challenge to grow here in hot, humid, South Florida. Luis will give his best advice to help your minis thrive.
Luis is a research scientist at the UF-Scripps Biomedical Research in Jupiter. In April, he published a paper on Eurystyles luisortizii, an orchid he discovered in Puerto Rico.
To compliment his talk, we will have a rare opportunity to acquire some exceptional miniature orchids that can be grown in warm conditions from the Tarzane Group. If you would like to research them, here is the list of what will be on our raffle table: Bulbophyllum moniliforme. Bulbophyllum sanitii, Dendrobium senile, Haraella retrocalla, Psygmorchis pusilla, Pleurothallis picta, Dendrobium toressae, Leptotes pauloensis, Oberonia seidenfadenii, Barkeria palmerii and Lepanthes telipogoniflora.

I am excited to learn about growing these varieties and maybe winning one myself. Bring that cash!

Graham Ramsey: “Repotting with New Zealand’s Finest”
2023-03-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Our March speaker is Graham Ramsey, who will discuss “Repotting With New Zealand’s Finest.” His comprehensive lecture will cover using different orchid media as well as repotting and mounting techniques at 7:30 p.m. March 13.

Graham is an Asheville, North Carolina native. Like many orchid enthusiasts, his first orchid was a white Phalaenopsis purchased at the local hardware store. It wasn’t until Graham’s mother-in-law sent him home with 18 orchids from her Florida home that he realized there was more to orchids than white Phals.

With his daughter off to college and a mix of orchids to care for, he co-opted her bedroom and attempted to create the perfect growing space. That is, until his wife objected to the humidifying of the bedroom! So it was off to the basement to create a full-blown growroom and, eventually, a 600-square-foot greenhouse.
A friend of Graham’s mother-in-law, the founder of the Western North Carolina Orchid Society, insisted Graham attend a a WNCOS meeting. In no time, Graham joined the society’s board serving for six years as president. Currently the vice president, Graham has served for 10 years as show chair for the society’s annual Asheville Orchid Festival coming up on April 1-2.
During his orchid journey, Graham met his mentor and friend H.P. Norton of Orchidview. Next followed breeding and growing Phragmipediums, with a focus on kovachii influenced Phrags – one of Graham’s favorites.
After 18 years, Graham has a propagation lab, a new indoor growroom and a greenhouse with about a thousand orchids. He has registered eight new hybrids and received 36 American Orchid Society awards. Graham serves as a member of the AOS Membership and Marketing Committee and the Affiliated Societies Committee.
At this meeting, we will have Orchiata and tree fern mounts and media available for purchase at a significant discount.

Omar Gonzalez, Summer Love of Encyclias
2023-04-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Please join us at 7:30 p.m. , April 10 to hear our very own FLOS member, Omar Gonzalez, give a brief history and description of Encyclicals. He will show how to acclimate orchids to a growing area. He will also discuss growing methods that work best for cultivating in South Florida.
Omar, who is a long-time orchid society member, hails from Miami, but spent time in the Midwest, attending Northland College in Wisconsin. He has a degree in chemistry and by trade, is a quality control chemist. Growing up, Omar always loved all kinds of plants and had a particular interest in growing fruits and vegetables. He found that growing the plants that he had cultivated in the Midwest was somewhat difficult in Miami, so his interest switched to sub-tropical. He became friendly with David McLean, the late native plant horticulturist from Broward, who introduced him to orchids – vanilla, stanhopea and other species.
As Omar’s interest in orchids grew, he amassed a wealth of knowledge going to shows, attending meetings and learning as much as he could from local growers. He took a trip to visit his sister in California and extended his travels to Hawaii to meet with Sheldon Takasaki from Carmela Orchids. Omar also volunteered at Bonnet House and has developed an interest in flasking. Currently, Omar is focusing on Brazilian Cattleyas and orchids of Central America. He is a valued member of the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society and is eager to share his orchid expertise with all of us.

Brian Spitler, Researching Your Orchid Background and Dendrobium Culture
2023-05-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Brian has been growing orchids for 25+ years. He is experienced in growing orchids in diverse climates including California’s hot dry deserts and coastal climate as well as the Midwest. His travels in locations such as Sweden, Brazil, Costa Rica, Japan, and Colombia allowed him to understand orchid growth in native conditions. As an American Orchid Society judge, he has visited many regional and international shows. He holds a Computer Science degree and works in the IT industry. As Past President of the Cincinnati Orchid Society he facilitated marketing and educational endeavors. They include online presence and payment systems, initiated and lead the Beginners Group, and a two weekend educational and society promotion endeavor via the local Home and Garden Show. He also led the creation of the restricted speakers fund targeted at financing the more expensive expert presenters. He feels these endeavors are vital to the future of societies. Having international orchid grower friends and visiting many growing facilities, he has developed knowledge of both the commercial and hobbyist market.

Keith and Dina Emig: Vandaceous…But Not Vandas
2023-06-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
We are delighted to have Keith and Dina Emig, owners of Winter Haven Orchid Nursey in Winter Haven, present a program entitled “Vandaceous…But Not Vandas” at our 7:30 p.m. meeting on June 12. Keith and Dina grow, hybridize and register plants in the Oncidium, Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Vanda, and Dendrobium alliances, and have created their own genera (Emigara). They have received more than 45 American Orchid Society awards, so far, including nine for their original crosses. Keith’s orchid journey started with a trip to the dentist where, on the receptionist’s desk, was a small plant with three leaves and an inflorescence with twenty blooms suspended in a beautifully presented fashion. He learned the dentist was an orchid hobbyist who grew the multifloral Phalaenopsis. It was on. Orchid fever is infectious, and all possible information and plants were obtained. What resulted was a uncontrollable driving force of endless experimentation to better grow and flower these plants. There is no substitute for the company of other enthusiasts, with whom to share this fever. Soon the passion of combining the attributes of two beautiful plants, by cross pollinating, stimulated his imagination. A flasking case was built, and has been a fixture in their kitchen for over a decade. More than 1,000 seed pods have been flasked to date and it seems each season there is some new cross that has more exciting possibilities. Keith’s passion also drew him to the Ridge Orchid Society in Lakeland and the American Orchid Society, revealing the orchid world’s secrets. Keith has served on the board of directors of the Ridge Orchid Society for more than a decade, including at least seven terms as president. Be sure to check out Keith’s article “Luck of the Draw” in the March 2017 “Orchids Magazine” (p. 208).
We are excited that Keith and Dina will be sharing their growing knowledge, bringing their plants for our raffle table and selling plants at our meeting.

Rafael Romero, Schomburgkia hybrids
2023-07-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Rafael Romero will be sharing his extensive knowledge about Schomburgkia hybrids at our 7:30 p.m. July 10 meeting.
Rafael, a native of Caracas, Venezuela, studied for two years at the United World College of the Atlantic in 1978. He later graduated with a degree in biology from Universidad Simon Bolivar in 1984.
He started working with orchids in 1986 with his wife and her father, Henrique Graf, owner of the largest orchid nursery in Venezuela. In 2003, they moved to Sarasota, opening the 7,000-square-foot nursery Plantio La Orquidea (plantiolaorquidea.com) which specializes in warm-growing species and hybrids from all over the world. Because of political troubles in Venezuela, in 2015 they decided to open a small lab in Sarasota where they are now producing plants.
Rafael also will be selling plants at the meeting and supplying plants for our raffle table.

Jim Roberts: Summertime and the Growin' is Easy
2023-08-14 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Grower and hybridizer Jim Roberts of Florida SunCoast Orchids will be the speaker at our 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14th meeting. The topic will be “Summertime and the Growin’ Is Easy.”
It was in the college days of 1979 when Jim first encountered orchids during a routine doctor’s visit.
While there, Jim noticed a large cattleya on the desk. He asked the fateful question: “What kind of flower is that?” To which the physician laughingly replied, “You do NOT want to know!” A short story by the doctor about his all-consuming hobby ensued and within two days he had gotten two orchids of his own.
During his college years in Northfield, Minnesota, he was put in charge of the St. Olaf greenhouse and its repository of orchids. Jim knew little about the plants but read everything he could get his hands on.
After graduating, he moved to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands where he happened upon a sidewalk sale by the local orchid society. Jim joined the group, learned much about growing in a tropical arid environment, and about the native orchid species. He won his first American Orchid Society award for Encyclia bifida ‘Loves Favor’ AM/AOS.
After leaving the island three years later, he found himself trying to take 10 boxes of plants through customs back to Minnesota. Little did he know that the customs encounter would be the easiest part. It was a totally new experience trying to grow plants in a cold Midwestern state. Many plants did not survive. But many did, and Jim learned that orchids actually could be grown quite successfully in the stifling environment of a house surrounded by ice and snow.
During those years in Minnesota, he worked in the horticulture industry, served in various capacities with orchid organizations and lectured at many garden clubs.
He also had the privilege of traveling extensively around the United States, Europe and Hawaii for his career, visiting all of the major orchid nurseries. It was during this time that he started to turn this avid hobby into a small business.
In 2001, Jim moved to Florida with a small collection of plants and his dream of operating an orchid nursery became a reality. He currently grows the beauties in three gutter connected greenhouses encompassing 10,000-square-feet of growing space near Myakka City, near Sarasota. Visit his website at floridasuncoastorchids.com.
Jim also will be providing plants for our raffle table and bringing an assortment of plants to sell.

Larry Cox, "A Slipper Collection for South Florida"
2023-09-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Larry Cox acquired his first orchid, a cattleya, in 1972. His second was a paphiopedilum, Paph. Maudiae ‘Magnificum.’ The cattleya is long gone, but he still has a piece of the paph. When he began with paphs, he commonly heard, “You can’t grow those in South Florida,” but the first one lived and bloomed, and the paphiopedilum collection continued to grow. In the mid 1980’s most of the other orchids were sold or given away, all for the love of paphs. In 1989 he moved from his South Miami residence to a more spacious property in the farming district of southern Miami-Dade County where he built his dream greenhouse of 3000 square feet. He has suffered setbacks, such as hurricane Andrew in 1992, but with perseverance and with the discovery of new paph species ,and the consequent new hybrids, Larry’s love of paphiopedilums has been renewed over and over again. In 1983 Larry won his first AOS award for Paph. Maudiae coloratum ‘Elektra’ AM/AOS, one of the first vinicolors. Since then his orchids have earned sixty AOS awards, including five FCC’s.
Eighteen years ago, Larry retired from thirty-seven years as a teacher, the last fifteen teaching Advanced Placement high school English . He now spends his time reading, traveling, maintaining his property and, of course, growing paphs. Larry has experimented with other orchid genera and has found success with lycastes, phragmipediums, and pescatoreas. He has even rediscovered the wonder of cattleyas, particularly species.
We will have our orchid meeting Monday, September 11, featuring Larry Cox. He will be speaking on slipper orchids that are suitable to grow in South Florida. He has his own collection that have been raised at his home in Miami. You have an opportunity to reserve your plant before the meeting as seen in the list below.
The plants are mostly divisions from his collection. He cannot bring all the orchids but will be glad to reserve plants. Just drop him an e-mail with the name of the plant and preferred price if there is a range. His e-mail address: lawcox@bellsouth.net
Brassia Rex ‘Tahoma’ AM/AOS – $30 (established on a log)
C. intermedia orlata ‘Crownfox’ AM/AOS – $45 (6” pot) supposed to be from the original plant
C. trianae ‘Mary Fennell’ HCC/AOS – Japanese breeders were able to meristem this classic clone, and I obtained a seedling some years ago. Good grower and bloomer. $50 (4 back bulbs and 1 new to bloom in season)
I grow the following lycastes with cattleyas.
Lycaste Agnette ‘Elektra’ AM/AOS (Lyc. macrobulbon x Lyc. schilleriana) – $35, 1 new, several old growths)
Lycaste macrobulbon – largest flowered of the yellow/orange lycastes, warm grower. $40, 4 new growths to bloom, $35 2 new growths to bloom
Mexipedium xerophyticum – $35, 5” pot with several growths
Paphiopedilums
Paph. randsii – rare striped multifloral – $35, 3 growth division
Paph. concolor – $35 multi growth, $20 single growth; easiest of the brachypetalums, yellow
Paph Linda Booth ‘Nike’ HCC/AOS (Paph. chamberlainianum x Paph. St. Swithin) – $50 6” pot in bloom; $35 5” pot
Paph Linda Boot h, a different clone – $40 6” pot; $25 2-growth plant
Paph. Andronicus ‘Nike’ AM/AOS (Paph. rothschildianum x Paph. Victoria-regina) – $50, 1 old, 4 new growths
Paph. praestans $35, $30
Paph. philippinense $35, $30
Paph. HoneY ‘Nike’ HCC/AOS (Paph. philippinense x Paph. primulinum) – $35, $30, both multi -growth
Paph. exul – $40, $35, both multi-growth. Give good light.
Paph. Rolfei ‘Nike” AM/AOS (Paph. bellatulum x Paph. rothschildianum) – $40, several growths. Reluctant bloomer, but worth the wait.
Paph. Starr Flies ‘Nike’ AM/AOS (Paph. Maudiae x Paph. St. Swithin) – $60. This is truly spectacular from an unusual hybrid, vinicolor multifloral. Blooming size division.
Paph. Susan Boot h (Paph. rothschildianum x Paph. praestans) – $45, $30, $25; free blooming dark flowers from praestans var. bodegomi
Paph. Delrosi (Paph. rothschildianum x Paph. delenatii) $30 – several growth divisions, pink flower
Paph. Betty Burkham ‘Elektra’ HCC/AOS (Paph. Edna Ratcliffe x Paph. lowii) $35 – 1-growth division, blooming size
Paph. Black Diamond ‘Elektra’ HCC/AOS (Paph. delenatii x Paph. fairrieanum). $30, 2 growth division
Paph. chamberlainianumd – $35, 2 growths, 1 in flower
Paph. glaucophyllum – $45, large with 3 bloom spikes; $30, several growths
Paph. liemianum – $40, 3 growth division
Paph. Sander’s Pride ‘Elektra’ HCC/AOS (Paph. sanderianum x Paph. stonei) – $50, 2 old growths, 2 new growths. Has the long ribbon-like petals of sanderianum
Paph. Sander’s Pride ‘Nike’ AM/AOS – $60, several growths
Paph. Shin-Yi’s Pride ‘Nike’ AM/AOS (Paph. Michael Koopowitz x Paph. rothschildianum) – $40, several growths
Paph. Leeanum ‘Marshall’ AM/AOS (Paph. insigne x Paph. spicerianum) , AOS awarded 87 points – $50, 6” pot full of growths, has the warmth tolerance of P. spicerianum, large flowers with huge dorsal
Paphiopedilum Astraea (Paph. philippinense x Paph. spicerianum) $35, 6” pot, many growths. Multifloral with big white dorsal
Of course, we will have our spectacular raffle table, including some plants from Larry’s collection. Don’t forget your plants for ribbon judging!

Nick Ewy, "Landscaping with orchids and other companion plants"
2023-11-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Nick Ewy was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he has been a plant grower, collector, and gardener since early childhood. Pursuing a long-standing interest in rare and tropical plants, including orchids, aroids, and epiphytes, he worked at a rare plant nursery throughout high school. He earned his B.S.in Botany and Plant Pathology from Michigan State University (2001). Nick relocated to California so that he could grow these tropical plants outdoors and took a position at an upscale club and golf course. He then moved to Florida, where he was the Director of Horticulture for the American Orchid Society Botanical Garden and Lead Horticulturalist at the International Polo Club in Wellington. In 2013, he began working at Naples Botanical Garden as Associate Director of Horticulture and is now the Director of Collections. He is responsible for acquiring, managing, and maintaining a large and diverse collection of subtropical plants from around the world.

Dave Off, Picture Perfect
2024-01-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
For our first program of the New Year, we are honored to have Dave Off from Waldor Orchids be our speaker. He will present “Picture Perfect,” an informative talk on how to look at flower presentation and color at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8.
Dave was born into the family orchid business in 1979. He grew up in a home on property adjacent to the greenhouses and was taught in a hands-on environment from an early age. He currently is a manager at Waldor Orchids (Waldor.com) in Linwood, New Jersey, where the Off family has been growing plants since 1925.
In addition to his personal collection of several thousand plants, Dave oversees the care and maintenance of Waldor’s renowned classic Cattleya collection.
Dave will supply orchids for our raffle table, and also be selling his beautiful plants.

Tomas Bajza, "Giant World of Miniature Orchids & Growing in Simple Setups"
2024-02-12 19:30 - 21:30 | FL
Tarzane Group was created by Tomas Bajza,

An orchid lover and addict. He originally came to the USA from the Czech Republic and settled down in hot tropical Miami, Florida. He adored orchids during his teenage years, but at that time there wasn’t many to see in his country. Even though he’s been living in Florida and surrounded by orchids for so many years, He started growing orchids in Florida from 2008. He started with the usual grocery store selling orchids, like Phalaenopsis and Dendrobiums, slowly adding some Cattleyas and Vandas since these were the orchids that everyone in Florida grows. All of these were large orchids and mostly hybrids.

2010 was the first time Tomas had ever seen a miniature orchid. He had no clue that such a thing even existed! He fell in love immediately and ordered a few. When they arrived, they were even smaller than he ever imagined. That was it, he was bitten by a “huge” miniature orchid bug. He is a very stubborn grower and does not listen to anything, like the word “impossible”. He likes all orchids, but has a huge amount of love for cold to intermediate growing species. He was told by many growers that due to the hot climate in Florida that these types of orchids could not be grown. Through extended research, reading and being active in different orchid boards and orchid groups, He’s learned tremendously and became an advance grower for miniature orchids. He has been very fortunate with meeting and becoming friends with many international orchid growers and nursery owners. At the beginning, he bought only plants sold by US nurseries. Nowadays, nearly all of his orchids come from abroad. Buying orchids from US growers is safe and the majority of the plants come nicely established. Unfortunately, there are no species he was
looking for offered by the US vendors anymore. He was really pushed to search and start his own importing because he could not just find any of the plants he wanted to own.
He also has a love for photography. With a growing miniature orchid collection, there were endless opportunities for taking pictures of these amazing, sometimes microscopical blooms. Posting pictures online caused quite a “buzz” leading to first invitations from various orchid societies to provide speeches for their members about growing miniature orchids and cold growing species in hot environment.

What used to be a “hobby” slowly grew to a small business that is expanding. They found out there are hundreds of growers searching for these hard to find, unusual, uncommon and rare micro and miniature orchids. They are happy to share their babies with the rest of the orchid world via their website, TARZANORCHIDS.COM, and educate people interested in growing miniature and small orchids through speech engagements across the USA. Tomas has a number of articles on miniature orchids published in orchid magazines across the globe as well.

There will be a presale for plants with an 18% discount prior to the meeting (January 29-February 10) , The coupon code (FLL2024) will be only valid during that time and is exclusively for FLOS members. You may pick up your plants at the meeting.
Terms & Exclusions
Reusable Code
While supplies last
No minimum purchase
Only valid on our website
Cannot be used on previous orders
Code must be used during checkout
Cannot be combined with any other offer
Excludes Gift Cards, Taxes and Shipping

Jose Exposito, Growing Orchids in South Florida, a survival guide “Orchid Survival Guide”
2024-03-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Jose Exposito of Soroa Orchids in Homestead will present his “Orchid Survival Guide” at 7:30 p.m. March 11. Members will learn basic growing information with emphasis on water, light, air and fertilizing with tips on repotting and pest control. There will be a Q&A session at the end.
Jose, who founded Soroa in 1985, was born in Cuba and emigrated to America during the 1980 Mariel Boat Lift.
He is a well known grower who has won numerous awards for his Phalaenopsis breeding program. He is a senior judge of the American Orchid Society as well as a world lecturer who has given presentations at the World Orchid Conference in Brazil and Malaysia.
He is a past board member of the South Florida Orchid Society, past president of the East Everglades Orchid Society and the Coalition for Orchid Species. He also is the Orchid Curator at the Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale.
Soroa Orchids, at 25750 SW 177th Ave. in Homestead, is a wonderful grower to visit. The front entryway is full of award plaques from the American Orchid Society.
Jose will be bringing plants to sell as well as supplying our raffle table.

Tony Millet, GOOD GROWING….the BASICS and WHAT IT TAKES
2024-05-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Tony Millet’s mom started started his growing career at a very young age, growing everything from seed. Growing up in Brooklyn NYC, his orchid growing career delving into cool, intermediate and warm types. Having the experience of growing in underground cold frames to an above greenhouse did set the tone for his new semi-retirement growing style. Presently he is growing under plastic covered lathe houses South Florida style (open on all sides) to include a small greenhouse for early seedlings. The early childhood experience of growing from seed set the tone for his own orchid hybridizing program.
He breeds and grows unusual hybrids in the large cattleya alliance. He performs all flasking activities, lectures and teaches He is an AOS judge. Many of his hybrids have been AOS awarded and are one of a kind, meaning not cloned or meristemed. His present growing goal is to impart warm tolerance to some of the cooler growing colorful hadro laelias now cattleyas. Enjoy natures best…Orchids.

Redlands Orchid Festival Bus
2024-05-18 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
RAMBLE to the REDLANDS
What: Day Trip via Luxury Coach to the Redland International Orchid Festival
Who: FLOS Members and/or Guests
When: Saturday, May 18, 2024
Bus departs 8:00 AM Sharp
Where: Christ Lutheran Church Parish Hall, 1955 E. Oakland Park Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
How Much: $45.00
Please Bring: 1. Box or Crate with Your Name Printed Clearly. (for your purchases) 2. Bring your lunch, bottled water will be provided on board the coach.
Itinerary:1. Redland International Orchid Festival
2. Isaac Farms (on the way home) Orchids & Succulents NOTE: Price Includes Admission Plus a $5.00 voucher for orchid purchases, Bus will park near gate, no lines. Many Food Trucks and Caterers are on the site.
Contact: Capt. Allen Cogar call: 954.553.1351 or email: tacogar@gmail.com

Melana and Jim Davison from Jim-N-I Orchids
2024-06-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Jim and Melana Davison, American Orchid Society
Accredited Judges who have an extensive and diverse
orchid collection, will speak at our next meeting at 7:30
p.m. on June 10 about brassavolas. Many of
these species are familiar to us and grow very well here.
The couple are not only involved in caring for their
orchids, but also are active in several South Florida orchid
societies and are past presidents of three. Jim’s appreciation for orchids stems from his scientific background as a Nuclear Chemistry Manager at the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant in Homestead. Melana is more interested in the aesthetic qualities of orchids, especially the ones that look
strange and other-worldly. She owns her own orchid
maintenance business and is known as “The Orchidiva.”
After Jim retired, they opened their own retail
nursery, Jim-N-I Orchids. They travel the show circuit,
selling their Florida-grown orchids. Their also
daughter joined the crew.
Jim and Melana will have orchids on hand for sale and also will
provide orchids for our raffle table.

Keith and Dina Emig
2024-07-08 19:30 - 21:30 | FL
We are delighted to have Keith and Dina Emig, owners of Winter Haven Orchid Nursery in Winter Haven, present a program introducing us to flasking and some Vandaceous tips at our 7:30 p.m. meeting on July 8. Keith and Dina grow, hybridize and register plants in the Oncidium, Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Vanda, and Dendrobium alliances, and have created their own genera (Emigara). They have received more than 45 American Orchid Society awards, so far, including nine for their original crosses. Keith’s orchid journey started with a trip to the dentist where, on the receptionist’s desk, was a small plant with three leaves and an inflorescence with twenty blooms suspended in a beautifully presented fashion. He learned the dentist was an orchid hobbyist who grew the multifloral Phalaenopsis. It was on. Orchid fever is infectious, and all possible information and plants were obtained. What resulted was a uncontrollable driving force of endless experimentation to better grow and flower these plants. There is no substitute for the company of other enthusiasts, with whom to share this fever. Soon the passion of combining the attributes of two beautiful plants, by cross pollinating, stimulated his imagination. A flasking case was built, and has been a fixture in their kitchen for over a decade. More than 1,000 seed pods have been flasked to date and it seems each season there is some new cross that has more exciting possibilities. Keith’s passion also drew him to the Ridge Orchid Society in Lakeland and the American Orchid Society, revealing the orchid world’s secrets. Keith has served on the board of directors of the Ridge Orchid Society for more than a decade, including at least seven terms as president. Be sure to check out Keith’s article “Luck of the Draw” in the March 2017 “Orchids Magazine” (p. 208).
We are excited that Keith and Dina will be sharing their growing knowledge, bringing their plants for our raffle table and selling plants at our meeting.

Olivier Turina, Stanhopeas
2024-08-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Olivier Turina moved to Fort Lauderdale from his hometown Brussels, Belgium in 2005 to join his husband Tommy and he started growing orchids in 2013 after attending the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Show where he discovered “Paradise” and got the “orchid bug”. It has since become a true passion/downright obsession of his.
Olivier is a hobbyist with a collection of 450+ orchids. He focuses on species and primary hybrids and grows many different genera with Catasetums and Stanhopeas being his top favorites but in reality, there are few orchids he does not like…..
Olivier has been a Board member of the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society (FLOS) since 2020. He has also been a monthly newsletter contributor at FLOS since 2018. He gives lectures on various subjects and he also started a YouTube channel in 2019 which has now over 3,200 subscribers and close to 300,000 views. It is called “Orchid House, Fort Lauderdale, Florida” and it features growing tips for all sorts of orchids.
Olivier has received seven awards from the American Orchid Society: one FCC, four AM, one CCM and one HCC.
Olivier has a Bachelor degree in Finance and Economics and spent the first part of his professional life in the corporate world in finances (banking and financial analyst); he has been a Fort Lauderdale-based realtor since 2013. He speaks 7 languages.

Christine Morales, 'Guarianthe aurantiaca and its influence on Cattlianthe.'
2024-09-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Christine Morales is an Associate Judge with the West Palm Beach Judging Center as well as an American Orchid Society Trustee. A Miami native, she is a development consultant who enjoys travelling, yoga and the arts. She and her husband, Alex, love sharing their home with orchids, other flora and fauna including their dogs, cats, turtles, fish as well as neighborhood songbirds. They belong to Ft. Lauderdale Orchid Society, enjoy exhibiting their orchids and have received 13 AOS awards between them.

Academically, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and Political Science and is a LEED Accredited Professional as well as FGBC Designated Professional for Building Design and Construction. Considered a subject matter expert in municipal compliance of redevelopment within emerging neighborhoods, she has been instrumental in the success of countless transformative projects and events within neighborhoods such as Miami’s Wynwood Arts District. She is fluent in French and Spanish.

Francisco Miranda, Miranda Orchids: Brazilian Orchid Habitats - the Amazon
2024-11-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
A taxonomist, naturalist and orchid grower, Francisco travels extensively in the U.S. and internationally speaking at orchid-related events and meetings. He has been doing this since 1988, while still living in Brazil. The subjects of his presentations reflect Francisco’s extensive travels to study orchids in their natural environments.

Miranda Orchids started in 1999 and is a nursery specializing in growing mainly selected Cattleya alliance species. In a sense, it is a continuation of Boa Vista Orchids, a nursery we ran in Brazil from 1986 until we moved to the U.S.A. Many of the plants available are produced in our lab and nursery in Central Florida from our extensive collection of stud plants. The rest we bring from Brazil to increase variety and novelty. Being native Brazilians, and having had a nursery for many years, we know that there is a lot of development in Cattleya species being done there. This is mostly because a lot of those species are native from Brazil (including all the bifoliate cattleyas) and because these plants are favorites of growers there.

Home Ramble November 16, 2024
2024-11-16 10:00 - 15:00 | FL
FLOS Home Ramble
November 16
Sign up now for our exciting Fall Home Ramble. See how other FLOS members grow and display their orchids as we tour five members’ beautiful gardens. Join in the fun as we visit two gardens in Fort Lauderdale, two in Coral Springs and one in Weston. We will have goodies and snacks along the way, with a special get-together 🍷 at the last home. Carpooling is encouraged.
Cost: Free
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16
Sign up: At the library table or email GraceBoston2010@gmail.com
Questions: Grace Boston

Ron Kaufmann: 101 Ways to Kill an Orchid
2025-01-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Ron Kaufmann is chair of the American Orchid Society Conservation Committee and a founding director of the Orchid Conservation Alliance. Ron has been growing orchids for more than 25 years and has travelled extensively to view orchids in the wild in Asia and South America, particularly Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia. Ron is a marine biologist by training, and his scientific work includes studies of Antarctic and deep-sea ecosystems as well as marine communities in coastal Southern California. His orchid collection began with a reedstem Epidendrum and progressed to a diverse assemblage that contains mostly species orchids. Ron has a long-standing interest in conservation. He joined the San Diego County Orchid Society’s Conservation Committee in 1999 and became chair in 2004. Since 1991, the Conservation Committee has awarded over $285,000 to support projects in 24 different countries. Ron also helped to found the Orchid Conservation Alliance and serves on the boards of the OCA, Orchid Digest, and Fundación EcoMinga (an Ecuadorian conservation organization). Most of Ron’s orchids are grown in a 36 x 24 foot greenhouse and several outdoor shade-covered areas around his house in San Diego. Friends have suggested that he build a second, much larger greenhouse to accommodate the many plants that often make walking through his greenhouse an exercise requiring extensive training in gymnastics and yoga to avoid serious injury. Thus far, this recommendation hasn’t been followed, although the temptation is always there.

Carlos Cahiz, 'Tips and Tricks of Orchid cultivation in South Florida'
2025-03-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Got orchid problems? OFE’s Carlos Cahiz has answers
Carlos A. Cahiz , who runs OFE International Orchids & Supplies, will hold an interactive discussion about frequent problems we encounter with orchid cultivation in South Florida at 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 10.
You won’t want to miss our general meeting to learn his “Tips & Tricks of Orchid Cultivation.”
Potting time has arrived, and Carlos will cover multiple topics to help us identify frequent problems and offer potential solutions to improve our growing. Subjects will include fertilizing, watering, treating problem insects, as well as using pesticidesand fungicides. We encourage participation, so bring photos of any issues you may be experiencing so he can help diagnose your problem.
Carlos is a native of Valencia, Venezuela, and is a past president of the South Florida Orchid Society. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1989. In1990, he joined his family orchid business in the Redland, working with brother Chris. His first big test as a manager was to deal with the devastation leftbehind by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Many of you have visited OFE on our Redland rambles and know that there is always something new happening. OFE’s has an expanded product line of chemicals and potting supplies and has orchids and tropical plants for sale, too.
Carlos lives in West Kendall with wife Amanda, their son and various adopted dogs, birds, turtles and, of course, orchids and tropical plants. He says his growing approach can be distilled into two simple ideas: Tender neglect and listening to your plants.
OFE’s is at 17899 SW 280 St., Homestead; ofeintl.com; 305-253-7080. Carlos will bring supplies for purchase after his presentation. With his help, your orchid collection soon will be bursting with blooms.

Lady Vanda, Serena Roman, The beautiful world of Vandas!
2025-04-14 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
The beautiful world of Vandas!
Serena Roman, aka Lady Vanda of Lady Vanda Orchids will hold an interactive
discussion about vanda cultivation in South Florida at 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 14th. Spring has arrived in South Florida and how better to celebrate than diving deep into the showy world of Vandas! Lady Vanda will cover multiple topics to help us cultivate healthy, beautiful vandas focusing on watering, fertilization, light, temperature to promote healthy roots, leaves and of course the gorgeous flowers! As always, we encourage participation as the presentation is intended to be interactive.
Serena was always drawn to nature and plants but her love for orchids truly blossomed through her grandmother’s extensive Phalaenopsis collection and it was she who gave Serena the nickname Señorita Vanda and Señorita de las Orquideas. Serena’s husband encouraged her to start the business and Lady Vanda Orchids was born.
Lady Vanda Orchids is located in Homestead FL , (ladyvanda.com) where their mission is to help both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers start, grow, and enjoy their very own orchid collections. The business is built on offering a diverse range of high-quality orchids. From popular vanda hybrids to rare miniature species, all plants are blooming
size—most of which have already bloomed several times and are well established. Plants are a combination of imports and those grown from flasks purchased from reputable growers and hybridizers with a focus on bringing unique new orchid crosses to the market, especially vandaceous intergenerics.
Lady Vanda will be bringing a nice selection of plants for sale so plan to spend time perusing the colorful selection.
– LEN EMORY Program Chair

Dr. Courtney Hackney, ”Re-Blooming Orchids”
2025-05-12 19:30 - 21:30 | FL
Dr. Hackney is Emeritus Professor of Biology and the former Director of Coastal Biology at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. Previously he was Professor of Biology and Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. Courtney began growing orchids in the Florida Keys in 1962, while working for a small orchid nursery. He has continued his interest in both orchid hybridizing and orchid culture since then. He grows many different genera, but his favorite is the Cattleya Alliance. He has about 500 mature cattleyas and even more seedlings, but his favorites are classic clones, some of which appeared in orchid collections over 100 years ago. He makes 10-15 hybrids and species sib crosses per year in various genera.
He wrote a Growing Tips column for 20 years, which ended in December 2013. Growing Tips appeared in newsletters around the country. He has also published in the Orchid Digest and Orchids. In 2004, he published “American Cattleyas”, the culmination of a decade of study and interviews with many of the “Orchid Greats”, which summarizes in old photographs and print how all of the modern cattleyas came to be. The book also describes what we know about cattleyas and cattleya hybrids, how to grow them, and what to expect from modern hybrids. During the past decade he has been researching the coerulea (blue) color form of cattleya species and hybrids, which was completed and published in 2018.
He is a member of the American, St Augustine, Jacksonville, and Cape Fear, NC orchid societies. During the Pandemic he has been hosting the monthly “Show Table” of the St Augustine Orchid Society via ZOOM, many of which are available on the society web site.
He and his wife Rose live in Jacksonville, Florida adjacent to a tidal swamp. Rose retired as a professional artist in 2017, but continues painting for fun. Epi magnoliae (conopseum) grows in trees of the swamp in his backyard. His orchids reside in a 24’x25’ Florida shade house adjacent to the swamp.
See preorder list below:
Dr Courtney Hackney May 2025 Price List

Overnight Spring Bus Ramble
2025-05-17 08:00 - 2025-05-18 19:00 | FL
An Overnight Bus Ramble! Join Us for a Fun-Filled Orchid Adventure!
The Ramble Coach fare is $160 per person
Bus Payment

Please reserve your hotel room lodging as soon as you can or by April 1st at the latest
Please let us know if you would like to share a room to defray costs. We will do our best to pair single, same gender members who would like to share lodging.

To reserve a Hotel Room please use the following link:

https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/flos-ramble-room-block/

Pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable overnight bus ramble with the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society! We’re heading on a scenic journey to explore stunning growers, visit unique nurseries, and enjoy special stops along the way.
FLOS Spring Orchid Ramble Stops

Visit Order
Vendor
City
Address

Pickup
Catholic Health Services
Lauderdale Lakes
4790 N St Rd 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319

1
Odom’s Orchids
Fort Pierce
1611 S Jenkins Rd,
Fort Pierce, FL 34947

2
Krull-Smith Orchids
Apopka
2800 W Ponkan Rd, Apopka, FL 32712

3
Orchids in Bloom
Apopka
2001 Rock Springs Rd, Apopka, FL 32712

4
ECUAGENERA USA
Apopka
3600 Plymouth Sorrento Rd, Apopka, FL 32712

Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn Apopka City Center
Apopka
580 E. Main Street Apopka, Florida 32703

5
Driftwood Garden Center
Estero
20071 S Tamiami Trail, Estero, FL 33928

6
Naples Botanical Gardens
Naples
4820 Bayshore Dr,
Naples, FL 34112

Dropoff
Catholic Health Services
Lauderdale Lakes
4790 N St Rd 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319

Rafael Romero, "Brassavola Hybrids"
2025-08-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Rafael Romero will be sharing his extensive knowledge about Brassavola hybrids at our 7:30 p.m. August 11 meeting.
Rafael, a native of Caracas, Venezuela, studied for two years at the United World College of the Atlantic in 1978. He later graduated with a degree in biology from Universidad Simon Bolivar in 1984.
He started working with orchids in 1986 with his wife and her father, Henrique Graf, owner of the largest orchid nursery in Venezuela. In 2003, they moved to Sarasota, opening the 7,000-square-foot nursery Plantio La Orquidea (plantiolaorquidea.com) which specializes in warm-growing species and hybrids from all over the world. Because of political troubles in Venezuela, in 2015 they decided to open a small lab in Sarasota where they are now producing plants.
Rafael also will be selling plants at the meeting and supplying plants for our raffle table.

Juraj Kojs, Developing an Orchid Collection
2025-09-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Developing an Orchid Collection. A practical guide to building a collection based on personal preferences, culture and microclimate knowledge
Dr. Kojš will reveal his secrets for curating a personalized orchid collection tailored to South Florida’s unique environment. Recently honored as an accredited AOS judge and boasting over 60 awards from the American Orchid Society, he combines artistic creativity with botanical science to transform your approach to orchids. In his talk, he will cover essential principles for building a collection, focusing on how to balance personal preferences with growing conditions and care needs.
Dr. Juraj Kojš is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where he combines his passion for music and orchids in innovative ways. He is the creator of Orchid DNA Music project and the founder of the FETA Foundation, which promotes experimental and interdisciplinary art forms. Dr. Kojš’s works have been commissioned by prestigious organizations such as The Knight Foundation, The Quiet Music Ensemble, Miami Light Project, Meet the Composer, Harvestworks, Miami Theater Center, Miami Live Arts, Deering Estate, and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.
In addition to his musical achievements, Dr. Kojš is an accredited American Orchid Society judge. He is the past president of Coalition for Orchid Species and a board member of Miami Beach Orchid Society. In 2024, he chaired the Orchids & Arts Festival at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. He has received over 60 awards from the AOS to date. His multifaceted career reflects a unique blend of scientific rigor, artistic creativity, and a deep love for orchids. www.kojs.net
