Great letter Blondie. You touched on many points which really drove the issue home, especially to me as another younger person in the hobby.
I am 33 and have been growing orchids since I was 25. For me, it was my mother instilling a love of gardening from an early age and it grew from there. So maybe getting parents involved and passing it to their children is a good way to bring young people into the hobby.
I agree with the points you made regarding exposure to the hobby. I have many friends my age in awe of my specimens when they come to my house, so it’s not a lack of interest. I find after talking to them for a while they have the perception caring for Orchids is rather difficult and something they don’t think they have the time for. Most often they are surprised at the diversity of orchids, as you pointed out, they think of orchids as what they see at the grocery store or the big box retailers—all Phals and Catts.
From a personal perspective, when I talk to others who have been in the hobby for a while it can get intimidating or overwhelming when they start to toss long scientific names around. But I know this is temporary and I keep reading everything I can get my hands on to learn more. I think this also ties in with your point about the awards system—I too would never enter a competition at this stage because it’s just so intimidating to have so many criteria.
I just this month joined AOS, and will in the next 6 months join my local orchid society (waiting until I see if I have to move). I have not gotten an issue of the magazine yet. I work as an Art Director in publishing and I look at all publications with a critical eye so now you have really piqued my interest in my first issue.
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