Fair Orchids

I am available for speaking engagements for garden clubs and orchid societies within 5-6 hours driving distance of NJ. 

If 3-4 talks can be planned within a region further afield, I am willing to travel further.

Having gone from commercial grower (1968-1977 in Denmark) to hobby grower (1994-2012) and back (2013 to present), I have considerable experience to draw upon.

You will find capsule descriptions of my orchid presenations below.  And, per demand from the one society, which has heard them all, I am working on additional material.

The first 6 presentations are intended for growers with 1-10 years of experience; in other words, there is considerable focus on cultural requirements, and how to provide those conditions for the plants.

Cymbidiums II was developed for an AOS Judging Center, so the emphasis is on breeding lines, flower characteristics and plant sizes.

The Taxonomy presentation explains why some plants have been moved to another genus (some 4 times or more).  It is of course OK to identify plants under obsolete names at home and on a soceity show table.  However, you must use the correct current name, if you wish to:

  • Enter the plant in a show for ribbon judging.
  • Present the plant for AOS judging.
  • Register a new hybrid, with plant in question used as a parent.

The last two presentations are of a more social nature.  One being a family autobiography, and the other a report from the last WOC in Miami. 

Garden Clubs, Master Gardeners & libraries:     $200 + travel expenses (see below)..

Travel expenses:          < 75 miles R/T     :  Tolls/Parking only;   

                                              75-249 miles R/T:  Tolls/Parking + fuel + meal

                                              250+ miles R/T   :  Tolls/Parking, fuel, meals & overnight stay (at member house or hotel) 

All presentations are in PowerPoint, so a digital projector (or large TV) is required.  I will bring my own laptop, but might need an extension cord.  To discuss a talk for your group/society, please call 973-495-4863 or send a mail to fairorchids@aol.com.

Current speaking schedule:

2024:    Jan 7th                Nutmeg State OS,                                  Cymbidium I

              May 6th              Tenafly Garden Club, NJ                        Orchids 101

             June 9th              Triad OS, Winston-Salem, NC                TBD

             June 10th            Triangle OS, Raleigh, NC                       Cool Orchids, outdoors 6+ months a year

             June 11th             Sandhills OS, Fayetteville, NC               Cool Orchids, outdoors 6+ months a year

             June 12th             Cape Fear OS, Wilmington, NC             TBD

             September 8th     Mid-Hudson Orchid Society, NY            Cymbidium I

             September 14th   Northeastern New York OS, NY            Cymbidium I



2023:    February 15th     Tucson Orchid Society, AZ                     You Can Grow Vandas

             February 16th      Desert Valley Orchid Society, AZ           You Can Grow Vandas

             May 7th               Susquehanna Orchid Society, PA          Cool Orchids, outdoors 6+ months a year

             May 18th             Bucks County Orchid Society, PA          Growing Seedlings from Flask

             October 12th       Long Island Orchid Society                   Cattleya

             October 19th       Maryland Orchid Society, MD                Growing Seedlings from Flask

             November 8th     Greater Westchester OS, NY                 WOC/Visit to Miami WOC in 2008

             November 16th   Neshanic Garden Club (in the AM)        Orchids 101

             November 16th   Central Jersey OS (in the PM)               TBD


2022:   January 16th        South Jersey Orchid Society                  Cymbidium I

            January 26th        Liberty Hall Museum, Union, NJ             You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.

            January 29th         AOS 2nd Orchid Culture Day                 You can grow Vandas

            February 6th         Nutmeg State Orchid Society                 Cattleya, history/taxonomy, propagation & cultural requirements

            February 8th         Greater Westchester Orchid Soc.          Cattleya, history/taxonomy, propagation & cultural requirements

            April 19th               The Garden Club of Princeton               You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.

            May 15th               Mid Hudson Orchid Society                   Cattleya, history/taxonomy, propagation & cultural requirements

            May 19th               Maryland Orchid Society                        Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids.

            June 18th              Peninsula Orchid Society of VA             Cymbidium I

            September 11th    Lehigh Valley Orchid Society                 Growing Seedlings from Flask

            November 12th     Greater Lansing OS, MI                         Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids.

            November 13th      Ann Arbor Orchid Society, MI                Cymbidium I

            November 17th      Central Jersey Orchid Society, NJ        Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids


2021:   January 6th          Central Jersey Orchid Society                Slippers - Mostly Paphs

            January 20th        Greater Westchester Orchid Soc.           Taxonomy, Species name changes & How to Research

            January 26th        Alabama Orchid Society                         Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids

            February 21st       South Jersey Orchid Society                  Slippers - Mostly Paphs

            March 9th             Deep Cut Orchid Society                        Cattleya

            April 22nd             Central Vancouver Island Orchid Soc.    Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids.

            September 12th   Mid Hudson Orchid Society                     Slippers - Mostly Paphs

            November 10th    The Cherry City Orchid Society               Slippers - Mostly Paphs


2020:   January 9th           Rowayton Gardeners, CT                      You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.

            January 10th         Women Gardeners of Ridgewood, NJ   You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.
            February 20th       Bucks County OS, PA                            Growing Orchids from Flask to Bloom
            March 3rd             Pinelands Orchid Society                       Cymbidiums I
            March 10th           Greater Westchester Orchid Socidety   Taxonomy, Species Name Changes, etc.  POSTPONED
            April 9th                North Jersey Orchid Society                  Potting Party     CANCELLED
            April 14th              Deep Cut OS, NJ                                   Cymbidiums I    POSTPONED
            April 21st              Staten Island Orchid Society                  Cymbidiumd I    CANCELLED
            May 28th              Greater Philadelphia Orchid Soc.           Growing Orchids from Flask to Bloom   ???
            June 9th               Orkide Klubben Fyn, Denmark               Dyrkning af Vandaer paa nordlige breddegrader   CANCELLED
            September 20th   OS or Western PA (Pittsburgh)               Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids.
            September 21st   Greater Cleveland Orchid Society          Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids.
            September 29th   Suffolk County Orchid Society                Cool Orchids, which can be grown outdoors 6+ months.

2019:  February 3rd          Nutmeg State Orchid Society                Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids.

            April 9th                 Greater Westchester Orchid Society     Cymbidiums I

            April 10th               Manhattan Orchid Soceity                     Cymbidiums I

            April 14th               Mid Hudson Orchid Society                   Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids.

            May 14th               Deep Cut Orchid Society                       Cymbidiums I

            June 9th                 AOS Cincinnati Judging Center             Cymbidiums II

            July 25th                Sandpiper Orchid Society                      Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids

            September 10th     Greater Westchester Orchid Society     Cymbidiums II

            September 14th     Ocean State Orchid Society                  Cymbidiums I

            September 15th     South Jersey Orchid Society                 Cool Orchids, which can be grown outdoors 6+ months

            October 8th            Massachusetts Orchid Society              Cool Orchids, which can be grown outdoors 6+ months

            October 12th          New Hampshire Orchid Society             Cool Orchids, which can be grown outdoors 6+ months

            October 13th          Cape and Islands Orchid Society          Cool Orchids, which can be grown outdoors 6+ months

            October 14th          Maine Orchid Society                            Cool Orchids, which can be grown outdoors 6+ months

            October 16th          Connecticut Orchid Society                   Cool Orchids, which can be grown outdoors 6+ months


2018:   January 8th            Deep Cut Orchid Society                       Cool Orchids, which can be grown outdoors 6+ months

            February 18th        Southern Tier Orchid Society                TBD

            March 13th             Greater Westchester Orchid Society     Cool Orchids, which can be grown outdoors 6+ months

            March 14th             Manhattan Orchid Society                     Growing orchids from flask to bloom

            April 10th                Cape May Garden Club                         You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.

            April 15th                South Jersey Orchid Society                 TBD (either Slippers, or Vandas)

            April 20th                Vasa Lodge Linne #429                         You  bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.

            June 21st               Westlake Womens Club                         You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.

            July 17th                Staten Island Orchid Society                  Cool Growing Orchids (outdoors 6+ months)

            August 9th             Long Island Orchid Society                     Cool Growing Orchids (outdoors 6+ months)

            October 1st            Tenafly Garden Club                               You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.

            October 9th            Greater Westchester Orchid Society      The Winding Path, 3 Generations of Paph Growers

            November 28th       Edison Garden Club                               You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.


2017:   January 10th          Deep Cut Orchid Society                    Preparing Plants for Shows + Growing Seedlings from Flask

            January 28th          Paph Forum, Washington DC             The Winding Path, 3 Generations of Paph Growers

             March 8th              Southeastern Pennsylvania OS, PA    Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids

             April 4th                 Greater Westchester, NY                    Growing orchids from flask to bloom

             April 24th               Chatham Library, Chatham, NJ           You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.

             May 11th               Nutmeg State Orchid Society, CT        Cool Growing Orchids (outdoors 6+ months)

             May 13th               Ocean State Orchid Society, RI           Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids.

             June 13th              Delaware Orchid Society                      Yes, You Can Grow Vandaceous Orchids

             July 8th                 New Hampshire Orchid Society           Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids

             July 11th               Massachusetts Orchid Society             Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids

             September 6th      Central Jersey Orchid Society             Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids.

             September 10th    Mid Hudson Orchid Society                  Cool Growing Orchids (outdoors 6+ months)

             September 17th    Virginia Orchid Society                         Cool Growing Orchids (outdoors 6+ months)

             September 18th    National Capitol Orchid Society            Cool Growing Orchids (outdoors 6+ months)

             October 7th           Northeastern NY Orchid Society          Cool Growing Orchids (outdoors 6+ months)

             October 15th         OS of Western Pennsylvania               Yes, You can Grow Vandaceous Orchids

             November 13th      Berkeley Heights Garden Club            You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.


2016:   January 26th         Passaic County Master Gardeners          A Passion for Orchids

              March 9th              Manhattan Orchid Society                     Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast

              March 20th           Southern Tier Orchid Society                  TBD (possibly 'Slippers - Mostly Paphs')

              April 12th              Greater Westchester Orchid Society        Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast

              April 21st               Bucks County OS, PA                                Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast

              May 25th                Greater Philadelphia OS, PA                   Growing Vandaceoius in the Northeast

              June 9th                 North Jersey Orchid Society                    Growing Orchids from Flask

              September 18th    South Jersey Orchid Society                      Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast

              September 20th   Staten Island Orchid Society                     Growing Orchids from Flask

              October 11th          Clifton Garden Club, Clifton, NJ              You bought an orchid.  How to make it bloom again.

              October 20th         Maryland Orchid Society                          Slippers - Mostly Paphs


2015:  February 12th        Long Island Orchid Society                     Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast

              February 17th        Staten Island Orchid Society                  Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast

              April 14th               Greater Westchester Orchid Society     Slippers - Mostly Paphs

              July 9th                  North Jersey Orchid Society                   Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast

              July 14th                 Deep Cut Orchid Society                        Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast

              September 17th     Ramapo Orchid Society                           Slippers - Mostly Paphs

              October 20th         Staten Island Orchid Society                  Slippers - Mostly Paphs

              November 8th       Mid-Hudson Orchid Society                   Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast


2014:  March 2nd             Lehigh Valley Orchid Club                      Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast

              July 16th                Greater New York Orchid Society          Growing Vandaceous in the Northeast

              November 2nd     Lehigh Valley Orchid Club                      Slippers - Mostly Paphs


To discuss a presentation, fees & travel expenses, please call me at 973-495-4863, or send an email to fairorchids@aol.com.


Articles for use in Orchid Society Newsletters:

Decideous Calanthes.pdf Decideous Calanthes.pdf
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Type : pdf
Cymbidium.pdf Cymbidium.pdf
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Type : pdf
Cypripedium acaule.pdf Cypripedium acaule.pdf
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Type : pdf
C. intermedia.pdf C. intermedia.pdf
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Type : pdf
Den. Kingianum & Aussie hybrids.pdf Den. Kingianum & Aussie hybrids.pdf
Size : 1610.106 Kb
Type : pdf
Guarianthe.pdf Guarianthe.pdf
Size : 831.277 Kb
Type : pdf
Holcoglossum.pdf Holcoglossum.pdf
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Type : pdf
Leptotes.pdf Leptotes.pdf
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Type : pdf
Rhynchostylis.pdf Rhynchostylis.pdf
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Type : pdf
Deflasking Orchids.pdf Deflasking Orchids.pdf
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Type : pdf
To divide or Not to Divide.pdf To divide or Not to Divide.pdf
Size : 1201.517 Kb
Type : pdf
Out in Summer.pdf Out in Summer.pdf
Size : 1609.94 Kb
Type : pdf
Spaghnum.pdf Spaghnum.pdf
Size : 1838.585 Kb
Type : pdf
Tools, Tips & Tricks.pdf Tools, Tips & Tricks.pdf
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Type : pdf
Historical Orchids.pdf Historical Orchids.pdf
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Type : pdf
Orchids - Conservation & Preservation.pdf Orchids - Conservation & Preservation.pdf
Size : 785.438 Kb
Type : pdf
Do your plants have correct names.pdf Do your plants have correct names.pdf
Size : 2166.087 Kb
Type : pdf
Sdlg, NBS, BS, Mature or Specimen.pdf Sdlg, NBS, BS, Mature or Specimen.pdf
Size : 2950.774 Kb
Type : pdf
Watering Cattleyas.pdf Watering Cattleyas.pdf
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Type : pdf
Taxonomy and Name Changes.pdf Taxonomy and Name Changes.pdf
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Type : pdf
Why buy more than 1.pdf Why buy more than 1.pdf
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Type : pdf