VAOS Meeting Wednesday Sept. 5th at 7pm

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

VAOS Meeting Wednesday August 1st at 7pm

Joint Meeting with EAOS                                 

Location: Venice Community Center (doors open at 6:30pm)
Speaker: Jim Roberts,                  Florida SunCoast Orchids
Topic: What’s A Good Orchid to Grow

Jim has been growing orchids for over 25 years in climates ranging from cold Minnesota to hot SW Florida. In 2001, he and wife Mary moved to Florida with a small collection of plants and the dream of operating an orchid nursery became a reality. They currently grow their beauties in three gutter connected greenhouses encompassing 10,000 square feet of growing space. As always, he strives to grow and sell the best quality orchid plants and to build a lasting reputation in the industry as one of the very best.
Jim will have orchids for sale at the meeting.

VAOS joint meeting with Englewood July 9th 6:30pm

Held at the Christ Lutheran Church, 701 N. Indiana Avenue, Englewood, Florida.
Topic: Growing & Showing Specimen Plants 

Bill Thoms has been growing and showing orchids for more than 45 years in the central Florida area. He has more awards for Culture in just Bulbophyllums than anyone else in the world (47 so far) The American Orchid Society has added a new Annual Award for the Bulbophyllums, the Bill Thoms Award.
Bill gives talks on a wide range of topics ranging from his specialty, “Bulbophyllums”, to General Orchid Culture. They all are presented in a funny style that helps growers understand how the plants work and the Culture of Orchids. He helps the beginner grower with advice about fixing problems and has a wealth of accumulated information for the more advanced grower.
Bill will give you tips to make your orchids grow and bloom better.
Some say he is the best speaker they have ever heard. Come and see for yourself.