Fair Orchids

+1 973-495-4863
Garden Club programs
For Garden Clubs, Master Gardeners, Library programs & other groups of plant people I have two talks available:
Orchids 101                                                                                              For plant people with limited orchid experience; this session covers:
  • What is an orchid, and where do they come from.
  • Native orchids in our region.
  • How to take care of Phalaenopsis to make them bloom again.
  • Introduction to other orchids, suitable for growers new to these plants. 
  • Where/how to find more information about orchids
Not your Grand Ma's Clivia                                                                This talk covers several traditional (+ a few not so traditional) house plants, which I have been working with:
  • Primarily Clivia miniata & Hoyas
  • Also Gasteria, Jade Trees, Scarborough Lily & Burro's Tail.
 As long as I may bring some plants for sale, my speakers fee for these programs = $200.00, plus travel expenses** (gas, tolls & meals as appropriate).

Orchid Society Speaking Schedule

I offer an extensive list of presentations.  Most of these presentations include cultural requirements and how I provide the plants with what they need.   My 15 year history of past talks was lost with the old web site, so listing below starts with 2025.
Speakers fee:       $250.00* + travel expenses** (gas/tolls or air fare), plus meals & accommodations
                              *   = Discounted if the membership purchases plants for more than $500.00 at the meeting.                                                                                    **   = When driving, I do not charge by the mile, only actual gasoline/toll expenses + meals.
Presentations available:

  • A look at Cattleya (species, a little taxonomy & cultural requirements from flask to bloom)

  • Cool growing Orchids, outdoors 6+ months in NJ

  • A look at Cymbidium I (species & cultural requirements)

  • A look at Cymbidium II, current breeding trends & recent awards

  • A look at Dendrobium (species & cultural requirements)

  • A look at Growing Seedlings from Flask, propagation, deflasking & care for baby orchids.

  • Orchid Culture 101 + some, incl. why blooming plants should be repotted asap.

  • A look at Orchid Taxonomy, and why the names are changing

  • A look at Slippers (Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum & Phragmipedium)

  • A look at Vandas, growing Vandas in the Northeast

  • A look at the 19th WOC, and what happens at a World Orchid Congress event

  • 3 generations of Orchidholics (family bio)

Schedule:

  • March 10, 2026              Rockaway Valley Garden Club, NJ          Orchids 101

  • May 6                               Sundial Garden Club, Hillsdale, NJ         Orchids 101

  • May 14                             Long Island OS, NY                                     Growing Orchids from Flask

  • June 6                               Northeast NY OS, Albany                          TBD    

  • June 14                             Lehigh Valley OS, PA                                   TBD

  • Sept 19                             Peninsula OS, Hampton, VA                      TBD

  • Sept 21                             Virginia OS, Richmond, VA                         TBD

  • October 11                      Mid Hudson OS, Newburgh, NY               A look at Dendrobiums

  • January 5, 2025              Tidewater OS, VA                                        Cymbidium I

  • January 13                       North Jersey OS, NJ                                    A look at Vandas

  • February 3                      Garden Club of Metuchen, NJ                  Orchids 101

  • April 10                            Long Island OS, NY                                      Cool growing Orchids

  • April 12                            New Hampshire OS, NH                             Cymbidium I

  • September 21                Virginia OS, VA                                              Slippers

  • October 5                        Susquehanna OS, PA                                   Cool growing Orchids

  • October 16                     Bucks County OS, PA                                   Slippers or Growing Orchids from Flask

  • November 2                   Nutmeg State OS, CT                                   Slippers

  • November 15                 Minnesota OS, MN                                       A look at Vandas

  • November 16                 Western PA OS, PA                                       A look at Vandas

  • November 17                 Ohio OS, OH                                                   TBD