May 23, 2001
Growers show flower power
Orchids by the Bay this weekend at NMC
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Get one and you're hooked.
Orchids have a way of getting under their growers' skins and local orchid aficionados are no different.
Peg Brace said that since her first orchid she began growing 20 years ago, she has never looked back. She and her husband have planned and built an attached greenhouse, complete with ventilation, circulation and sprinklers for her orchids. They also included a cistern underneath the greenhouse to collect rainwater because the orchids prefer that to well water.
Brace has about 100 orchids now. Of those, she has nearly 75 different varieties, from those that bloom for six months to those that bloom for one day.
"One of the things about orchids is that if you buy one, you can never stop, you want more," said Brace, treasurer of the Northwestern Michigan Orchid Society. "For me it is the challenge of getting them to flower and that each one has their own distinct personality."
The seemingly infinite variety of species is a hook for many orchid growers, especially with new hybrid species coming onto the market.
Jane Norcross, who started her orchid career more than 20 years ago while visiting her parents in California, loves all the different types of orchids. While she has been cutting back on the variety and number of them over the past few years, the possibility of acquiring a new and different type continues to be exciting.
"I like species and there are just so many you want to see what they all look like," said Norcross, who grows them in a greenhouse attached to her house. "Then you have so many. I'm always buying something new because there's always something new to buy."
Brace, Norcross and the other 100 members of the Northwestern Michigan Orchid Society often expand their personal collections by swapping, both at local meetings and other gatherings. The upcoming Orchids by the Bay show, scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday at the Oleson Center, is a prime opportunity to pick up something new.
"We have growers bringing exotic stuff to buy," Brace said. "People coming to shows are amazed by what they see, there's just such a variety; that's what keeps it interesting all the time."
Another nice feature of the show is a chance to compare orchids and swap growing tips and techniques. With members of the society coming from as far away as the Upper Peninsula, seeing who is growing what and how is always a good time for attendees. The show will also feature orchid artwork, such as photography, painting and cross stitch, and a variety of orchid arrangements.
The Northwestern Michigan Orchid Society formed about 20 years ago and began holding informal shows every year at the Northwestern Michigan College barbecue. Five years ago, they decided to have a show sanctioned by the American Orchid Society, with judges accredited by the organization to award prizes in a variety of categories. This year's show is their third show of this type and organizers plan to continue holding them, both for themselves and to expose others to the fun and variety of orchids.
"The orchids are a year-round flower and it is a good hobby if you are going to live here all winter, because it's warm in the greenhouse," Norcross said. "If there's any sun, you're in it."
Orchids by the Bay will be held on Saturday, May 26, from noon to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, May 27, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Oleson Center at Northwestern Michigan College. Admission is free, although donations are accepted.