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Orchid Show next weekend at Penn State

EMMA GOSALVEZ/THE EXPRESS The Wilsonara Vulcan ‘Garnet’ received national recognition for its improvement over its parents.

STATE COLLEGE — The 53rd Annual Orchid Show, presented by the Central Pennsylvania Orchid Society (CPOS), will take place Saturday, April 7, from 1-6 p.m. and Sunday, April 8, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Penn State’s Snider Ag Arena, located at the corner of Park Avenue and Fox Hollow Road in State College. There is no admission charge and plenty of free parking.

A special photographer’s hour will take place 9-10 a.m. on Sunday. This is a time when the show is limited to photographers. Knowledgeable orchid growers will conduct tours of the show at 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday and at noon and 3 p.m. on Sunday. An orchid potting demonstration will be held 3 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Visitors may have one orchid plant repotted for free and up to two more repotted for only the cost of the supplies. Orchid plants and potting supplies will be on sale by a variety of vendors.

Judging for this show is provided by qualified American Orchid Society judges. These folks travel around the country, and sometimes internationally, judging and attending shows big and small. Yet they look forward to this show because of the high-quality plants, not only in the exhibits but for sale as well. Many hold their purchasing for this show, going out carrying boxfuls of newly purchased plants to enhance their personal collections.

Vendors come from Pennsylvania and several surrounding states. They say this show, though small, is well worth the work and travel expenses. It provides them an opportunity to acquire new plants from CPOS members that in several instances are not only collectors, but breeders developing new crosses available from no other source.

The Central PA Orchid Society’s first meeting was in December 1963. Its first show was held the following spring. The Society meets on the second Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. in room 123 of Head House #1, located behind the Tyson Building at Penn State University Park. The exception is in May, when the meeting is moved to the third Sunday to accommodate Mother’s Day.

Dues are $10 a year for individuals, $7 for students and are available at the show or by emailing membership@centralpaorchidsociety.org. There is a monthly newsletter with pictures, listings of awards and photos from the monthly show table.

Orchids have a finicky reputation, but with the right light and care, many will re-bloom and do quite well in a home environment. Personally, though enthusiastic about my orchids, I am a rank amateur compared to most CPOS members. Even so, I have two orchids in bloom in my living room right now. One, a paphiopedilum or “lady slipper” type, has been in bloom since November, and the other, a phalaenopsis or “moth” orchid, surprised me by sending up a flower spike in December. That one usually doesn’t bloom until spring, but I really enjoyed those pops of color through all the dreary snow and cold this winter.

Orchid vendors are happy to provide instructions for home care of plants they are selling. Growing information is also available online through the American Orchid Society’s website. Or you can just enter “orchid care” or the name of your particular plant into any search engine and have your pick of multiple sites.

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