So, my friends Laura, Linda and I are lucky enough to be members of the Tampa Orchid Club...which means we're lucky enough to have some very knowledgeable new orchid friends
Bill Thoms and his lovely wife Doris Dukes are among them
I first met Bill and Doris when they were judging a show for the club I was in at the time. Although I had never done it before and was a little nervous aobut screwing something up
it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my (at the time) new-found hobby of growing orchids. I was assigned to a team which included Bill as one of the judges...and walked away from that experience knowing more than I thought possible. With all the people they meet, I'm sure they don't remember that first meeting 5 yrs ago but I have never forgotten it. It is what made me such a fan of society members volunteering to clerk at their club shows
Bill and Doris are holders of mutiple multiple (did I say MULTIPLE?) awards for their Bulbophyllums.
Bill is also a great teacher and a very funny man. It's easy to learn when there's an element of fun and laughter to go along with the information
Now, even people who unfortunately can't become a member of the Tampa Orchid Club have the opportunity to "meet" Bill Thoms...sort of
He has written a book:
BULBOPHYLLUMS
The Incomplete Guide;
From A to WHY?
I got my copy yesterday, started reading it at about 11 last night and at 12:30 this morning, I found myself awake and literally laughing out loud! (I don't know about anybody else but I've never had an instructional guide make me giggle
). I had also already made the decision to totally change the way I grow my Bulbs and I'm already working on it
Watch out folks!!! Here I come!!!
Seriously, if you want to read a good book that is going to teach you how to grow orchids and make you laugh along the way...get the book!!!
I'm not associated with the book in any way and Bill doesn't even know I'm writing this yet but Orchidboard is a place for learning and in my opinion, THIS is the book you need to have in your collection