Some orchids become classics that are always available and always in demand. Guaritonia² Why Not, Phalaenopsis Baldan's Kaleidoscope. and Paphiopedilum Maudiae come to mind as examples. It may be ease of growth, awesome beauty of the flowers, or just the serendipity of marketing that has catapulted such orchids to fame and popularity making them part of orchid collections far and wide. In conversation at shows and meetings, these orchids are often referred to by just the grex name, like old friends. One of my personal favorite "classics" is...

This fall marks the 50th anniversary of the Mid-America Orchid Congress and you missed a great party if you didn't take in the Congress and Show hosted by the Orchid Society of Middle Tennessee over Halloween weekend. Established in 1959 with 28 member societies in 13 states, the Congress became an AOS affiliated Society in 1961. Today the Congress has...

The AOS will be hosting a fall orchid show at its Visitor Center and Botanical Garden this coming weekend. This has been an annual event that like fine wine, just gets better each year. There is much to do and see and the timing is perfect for holiday gift shopping, or adding fall bloomers to your own collection. There is a full schedule of orchid classes that are free with admission and AOS judging on Saturday.

About this time of the year my mail brings many questions about brown sheaths. Why does a sheath turn brown? Is it serious? How can I make it green again? Will it injure the buds?

The cooler weather of autumn brings out the orchid flowers, and the orchid shows, to serve as a teaser before the full schedule of the winter-spring show season begins after the holidays. There are many fine orchids whose primary flowering season is October through December and most areas of...

Weird and wonderful, Brassavola cucullata will add a conversation piece to any collection of orchids. Visitors often comment, "that's an orchid?". B. cucullata is the type species for the genus, yet unique with its fringed lip having a long, tapered tip. The species