Speaker:John F. Salventi, Ph. D.

Prior to involvement in the orchid industry John Salventi was a health-care professional with more than 20 years of hospital management experience including 17 years at the Lehigh Valley Hospital. John and Tom Purviance opened Parkside Orchid Nursery in 1992.

Parkside grew to be one of the largest multi-genera orchid nurseries in the northeastern United States with five greenhouses, spanning over 14,000 square feet of growing space. After 20 years of operating Parkside, it was sold in June.

During the 20 years that they operated Parkside, both John and Tom traveled extensively to maintain an interesting inventory for the serious hobbyist and secured plants directly from the growers. These include frequent trips to South America, Central America, Hawaii and Asia. John continues to travel to South America leading Eco-Tours in Peru and Ecuador. In Peru these trips have included The Manu Cloud Forest, the Wayqechas Biological Research Center, Cusco, and Machu Picchu. He has traveled extensively in Ecuador on several occasions and to Costa Rica twice, once traveling to the rain and cloud forests. John served on the conservation committee of the American Orchid Society and the president’s advisory council for the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research.

 He has spoken both nationally and internationally at Orchid Societies and Symposia on orchid and conservation topics. John continues to speak and lead workshops, on a variety of orchid topics.

See www.everythingaboutorchids.com

John is scheduled to speak on plant nutrition

Location: Venice Community Center -(doors open at 6:30)

Speaker: Ron Midgett of New Earth Orchids, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Topic: “Green With Envy: Green Cattleyas—Origins”

Location: Venice Community Center -(doors open at 6:30)