Fair Orchids

+1 973-495-4863
Plant talks for plant people
I travel throughout the US to give talks on plants.  I have programs designed for Garden Clubs as well as Orchid Societies (please scroll further down on this page).  I am continuously updating the presentations, so even if you heard one a few years ago, it is not exactly the same today.
My current speaking schedule is listed below.  If you are looking for an open date, please also check against the orchid show schedule.  Dates shown there are the dates the show is open to the public, I will actually be busy with preparations 2 days before, and unpacking 1 day after those dates.
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 my old web site, so the listing below starts with January 2025.
Speakers fee:       $250.00* + travel expenses** (gas/tolls or air fare), plus meals & accommodations (I do not mind staying with a host).
                              *   = 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:

  • February 20, 2026         Gold Coast Cymbidium Society, CA       A look at Cymbidium I (species & cultural requirements)

  • March 10                         Rockaway Valley Garden Club, NJ          Orchids 101

  • March 12                         Long Island Orchid Society, NY              Growing Orchids from Flask

  • April 9                              Long Island Orchid Society, NY              Hands on deflasking seedlings, potting compots & building humidity chambers.

  • May 4                               Sundial Garden Club, Hillsdale, NJ         Orchids 101

  • June 6                               Northeast NY OS, Albany                         A look at Dendrobiums

  • June 8                               Greater Westchester OS, Harrison        A look at Dendrobiums

  • June 14                             Lehigh Valley OS, PA                                  A look at Vandas

  • 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

  • November 8                    Blue Ridge OS, Roanoke, VA                    A look at Cymbidium I (via Zoom)

  • 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                Greater Cleveland OS, OH                          Cool growing Orchids