Venice Community Center, 7pm

Speaker: Tomas Bajza – Tarzane Group 

Topic: Giant World of Miniature Orchids

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.

Tomas will have Orchids for sale.

Doors Open:  6:30pm

Venice Community Center, 7pm

Speaker: Bret Ullery

Topic: Orchids 101 – Basic Orchid Care

Born in Kansas City, MO in 1961, Bret’s love of orchids began in February 2006 when he gave his wife Ruth her first orchid, a lime green hard cane dendrobium.  After that they joined the Florida West Coast Orchid Society, a month later they attended their first orchid auction, and 26 plants later the passion had begun.

With more than 8,000 orchids now, they own Accent Orchids.  He and Ruth, started their business in 2012 with their nursery in the backyard. Bret built all their shade houses that hold their orchids.

Bret has been the president of the Tampa Bay Orchid Society and is currently the president of the Florida West Coast Orchid Society. His love to educate people is his motivation. He currently gives presentations on Dendrobiums, Schomburgkias, Grammatophyllums and watering systems. You can follow Accent Orchids on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/AccentOrchids, to see what’s recently happening with him and Accent Orchids. If you have any questions, call him at 813-299-8834 or email bretullery@gmail.com .

Bret and Ruth will have plants for sale.

Doors Open:  6:30pm

Venice Community Center, 7pm

Speaker: Rick Belisle

Topic: Welcome to VAOS

Rick Belisle has been growing orchids since 2009 when, in a meeting of the Newcomers of Venice, he heard, during a presentation by our own Carol Wood, that “orchids offer you the opportunity to have color year round.” Intrigued by that statement, he approached Carol and she, after some discussion, suggested he come to the next VAOS meeting.  At that meeting, he joined the Venice Area Orchid Society to learn more about orchids and how to grow them. Now, after many trials and tribulations, he has approximately 100 orchids in his collection. They include Dendrobiums (his personal favorite!), Cattleyas, Oncidiums, Catasetums, Stanhopeas, and a few Phaleonopsis.

He is an active member of the VAOS, is the Mentoring Program Coordinator for the club, as well as the Director of Education, Training and Outreach. He has taught classes on orchids and orchid care in orchid shows and to orchid clubs, garden clubs, and to many other service clubs. During our annual Show and Sale he is our Master of Ceremonies, welcoming our guests, reading off the hourly raffle winners, and teaching our classes.

His presentation will be not only for new members, but also more “seasoned” members, who might just wonder (or forget!) exactly what it is we, the Venice Area Orchid Society, are all about. The discussion will cover the Who, What, Where, How and When of all that we do.…and the list, after putting it all together, and as you’ll see, is quite extensive!

Orchid Envy will have orchids for sale