“An orchid in a deep forest sends out its fragrance even if no one is around to appreciate it.”
– Confucius (551-471 BC)

The first orchids that caught my attention and started me on a journey of mildly obsessive love, was at my mother’s California home in the early 1970s. I often sent her potted orchids via a La Jolla (CA) florist as gifts for various celebrations. I simply specified a “beautiful orchid” on the orders, as I knew very little about them, other than my mother loved them.
I visited Mom often but didn’t notice the continuing accumulation of orchids until a Christmas in 1974. I guess it was the right time of year for peak orchid blooms. Her orchid collection had thrived and was so beautiful: Its flowers rivaled

15th Annual International Orchid Festival
For those who would like to see some of the most astonishing orchids in the world, the 15th Annual International Orchid Festival, March 10 to 12 at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables is highly recommended. There will be displays of over 10,000 orchid plants from local and international growers, seminars on growing and caring for orchids at home, handmade products for sale by artisans and the gorgeous rare orchids at American Orchid Society juried show.
Visit the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Website for information and directions: (www.fairchildgarden.org).

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