Location: Venice Community Center (doors open at 6:30pm)
Speaker: Brian Monk, Blu Llama Orchids
Topic: Paphiopedilums Orchids
Our guest speaker is Brian Monk of Blu Llama Orchids Inc. in Naples, Florida. Brian will discuss Paphiopedilums orchids and how to grow them successfully.
Brian Monk was born in Milton, Florida in 1969. Shortly after his birth, Brian’s family moved to Charleston, West Virginia where he spent the next 18 years. As a young man, Brian’s intense passion for nature led to his profession and his many hobbies including bird-watching, orchid growing and natural history. In 1992, Brian received his B.S., cum laude, from Hampden Sydney College in Virginia followed by a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Virginia Tech in 1997.
Brian started growing and hybridizing orchids in his backyard, but this has expanded to 4000 square feet of greenhouse space. He will grow anything green, but focuses on his hybridizing projects, which include the development of multi-floral white and pink Paphiopedilums, warmth-tolerant red Oncidiinae, and a standard pink Cattleya with an all-white lip. Accompanied by his wife and inspired by his orchids, Brian continues to pursue and perfect his orchid culture and photographic skills. Brian’s photography has won awards online, in the International Orchid Show, and the World Orchid Conference.
Brian will bring plants to sell our members