Author Archives: Jay Loeffler

Every year in July and August we hold  joint monthly meetings with the Englewood Area Orchid Society (EAOS).

The EAOS monthly July meeting will be held on the 18th at the St. David’s Episcopal Church, 401 S. Broadway, Englewood. Broadway is parallel to 776 and the church is located behind the shopping center that has Stefano’s Restaurant and the Beall’s Outlet on S. Indiana Ave/Rt. 776.

The business meeting will start at 7pm but our speaker, from Bredren Orchids, will be selling plants so you might want to come early. His topic is “Phalaenopsis, An Introduction to the Novelty Types”.

EAOS will join us at our August 3rd meeting.

Location: Venice Community Center (Doors open at 6:45pm)         

The Speaker will be Bret Ullery

Presenting: Dendrobium’s

Born Kansas City, Mo 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; 26 plants later the passion had begun.

With over 8,000 orchids now, they own Accent Orchids.  He, and his wife 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 both 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 has talks on Dendrobiums, Schomburgkia’s , Grammatophyllum’s , and watering systems. You can follow Accent Orchids on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AccentOrchids to see what’s happening now with him and Accent Orchids.

Location: Venice Community Center (Doors open at 6:45pm)

The Speaker will be Dr. Tatiana Arias

Presenting: Research in orchids, including the topics of evolution and conservation

Award-winning botanist  joined the staff of Selby Gardens in November 2021 as an orchid researcher. An innovative scientist who earned a Ph.D. at the University of Missouri, Arias comes to Sarasota from her native Colombia, where she has been leading a research lab focused on orchid genomics, horticulture, and conservation.

Dr. Arias is a classically trained botanist who has kept up with modern methods. Her interest in pursuing novel approaches to science is refreshing. Tatiana brings to us a passion for orchids as well as broad connections to the botanical world and to the Andes, where the greatest region of orchid diversity is found.

Arias, has more than 15 years of experience working in plant sciences. She has been honored by the World Academy of Sciences and The Colombian Academy of Sciences, among other professional achievements.

“I am passionate about and committed to diversity in academia,” Arias said. “This position presents an exciting opportunity to do top-notch orchid science research in an environment of other accomplished scholars.”

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens provides 45 acres of Bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and regional history. For more information visit  selby.org.