What orchid shows would you attend, if you could and why?
 

I have finished a big project and become unemployed, which is not all bad, in my case. My greenhouse has needed my attention, as the "plague" and rat eviction this summer indicated. Most of the wilt has been stifled please.gif, or at least I really hope so. Physan 20 really helped, so a big thank you to all who suggested it's use. :bowing Here I am with some free time on my hands, an old car, a sense of adventure and a serious case of orchiditis....:roll:. I have always wanted to attend the Chicagoland orchid show and the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate show and sale, but was wondering what shows you have attended or want to attend and why. Sorry, international (Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia) friends, my car won't make it to your suggested shows, but I would still love to know which ones you have enjoyed and why...maybe some day!! I might could attend a good Canadian or Mexican show, though....kinda depends on the old car. Thanks to all for any ideas.

for me, it would have to be...ALL OF THEM!!! :rofl: i havent been to anything other than local, but id love to!

One I'd love to go to is the RHS London Orchid show in March. I'm hoping to go there next year! If I was in the US, I'd love to go to the big Redlands Orchid Festival in FL.

I agree with Camille. I'd love to go the the Redlands show in FL. That's much closer to you than Santa Barbara! :lol: I've heard that the Pacific Orchid Expo in San Francisco is very good. I plan to go this year.

I would love to go to one of the Santa Barbara Orchid Festivals, and plan to someday when my transportation issues are resolved - it's a few hours away.
I have been to, and would definitely love to go again, the Pacific Orchid Exposition.
There is an Orchid Expo held in Japantown in San Jose - didn't get there this year because of car issues - I hope to be able to check it out next time - I don't know how big it is

Redlands for sure just because of the vendors who attend and I could also maybe meet some of the Florida OBer's

Longwood Gardens in southeastern PA, SE PA Orchid Society, 3/25/2011, has a great show and the gardens and landscaping are unbelievable.

I attended Chicagoland this past September and it really isn't much of anything.... Now don't take this wrong because many people do attend and enjoy this type of "open house" presentation. This is more of a tour of four commercial greenhouses with 3 or 4 additional vendors at each. Three of the four are rather far apart, like 20 to 30 min drive.

NYBG I understand puts on a very nice show.... Dorothy, of Blessed Memory, always attended and would get discounted group tickets for those who could attend and arrange for a tour. While I was never able to go, I'm sure it was something else.

There is also an International Orchid Show or something in Miami which should be a great place to see some beautiful flowers. I may be somewhat confused, not unusual for me, but I may be thinking of the World Orchid Conference which is 11/14~23/2011 in Singapore.... road trip anyone?

This is a listing from the AOS of shows throughout the country. Keep in mind that the information contained on this list changes from time to time, so you have to check back for additions, etc. AOS | Show Schedule

The only show I have attended so far is Chicagoland. I liked because it gives an option to pick unstressed and undamaged plants right from growers. I also liked quest vendors. All the plants I bought were in excellent condition and I am very happy with them.
I would like to go to Redlands but I am usually too busy at work at that time and not able to time vacation.

I definately would love to go to Redlands in Homestead, FL. The weather during the time and the number of the vendors are really attractive.

I have been to the show in San Diego in March 2009. Besides the traffic I had to deal with, it was quite a show compared to the orchid shows I had experienced around Portland area.

I'm thinking of the RHS London Orchid show in March. Camille, it would be really good if we could get sorted to meet up there.

Another one in the UK is the Peterborough one in June. The Peterborough International Orchid Show is meant to be a good one from what I've heard from folks I've spoken to at other smaller shows. I'm aiming to get to that one next year.

For now whether I go or not depends on if my contract gets extended. For now I'm working at the university until mid february and if I don't get the extension that my boss wants, then I'll be in France in march... I'll keep you posted! With Easyjet it's really easy and cheap to get a flight from Amsterdam to go to London for a weekend. I'd probably spend more on orchids than on airfare!

I also heard that it's a very nice show, with lots of international vendors. New World Orchids goes there every year, so if you want Japanese orchids, that's the place to go! Shannan went once and I remember that she had a great time there.

Let me know if you end up going. I'm not certain myself yet, but no point us both going and not realising the other person is also there :)

Thanks for the input so far!! Howard, your comment on Chicagoland was really helpful. I really liked meeting Greg of Oak Hill Gardens at the spring AOS meeting in OKC and I guess I had that kind of venue in mind.
THe WOC in Miami was fantastic beyond my imaginings. I would love to go to Singapore for the next one....might have to get a job before that could happen...:(
So, on the list, presently:
Redlands, which did look really cool
SBO - hey, it's Santa Barbara!
Pacific Orchid Expo
NYBG
National Arboretum - did a fab show several years back & when I was in DC, I went!
For the future:
RHS
Peterborough

Has anyone ever gone to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens? I don't know if they have a show, but they have published some good orchid books.

id like to go to redlands, but it wont happen for a few years..... my OS put a display at the DC show. i didnt go, but i heard it was a great show.

Yes, Greg is very nice. Problem is that he has soooo many people wanting his attention that, at times, he can be a bit frazzled. I do agree, it is very nice to be able to leisurely stroll about without any pressure and just look and maybe purchase and maybe not. It that regard Chicagoland is different than most Orchid shows with vendors lined up one after another. I just trust no one took my Chicagoland comments the wrong way.

Santa Barbara show is always fantastic.
Miami show is always fantastic.
Chicago show is always good.
Redlands show has a great reputation, but I've never been to it myself.
Detroit show (Palm Sunday weekend) is always great.
Whenever a show hosts the AOS Trustees meeting, the show is usually exceptional - worth looking at the AOS calendar for that.
Happy trails!

WOW!!! Duane. You know about our show all the way for the Twin Cities!!! I must say it is pretty nice

That's EASY!
The one this fall in Singapore ;)

Yes, I have to agree with that one!

Or a show in Tokyo. I also want to go to the RHS show one year, it depends on so many other factors, and the Peterborough one.

Orchid Society of Great Britain's President, Henry Oakley takes trips to the Asian shows and the photographs in the OSGB journal are very inspiring.

One point of clarification: There are two different events in Chicago. One is the Chicagoland Orchid Growers' Association Festival in the fall. It's fun, but it is an open house of commercial growers. As a former commercial grower in Chicagoland, I can recommend it unreservedly:biggrin:.
The other is the Illinois Orchid Society show, which is in the spring at the Botanical Gardens in Glencoe. This is a really nice exhibition - lots of displays, lots of vendors.
Miami, Detroit and Santa Barbara are all superior shows, in my (admittedly not so humble) opinion.

The Tokyo Dome show is amazing, by all accounts. One day...

I sold at the Palm Sunday show for several years in the 1990s when I was with Klehm Growers out of Chicago. The society was well organized, there were always a bunch of great judges to learn from, the displays were great... Truly one of the high points on the orchid calendar.

Tops on my list would be the Gold Coast Cymbidium Growers Show, The National Cymbidium Show in Australia & the International Orchid Festival in Osaka (if it still exists...I went in 1995 and had a blast)
Adam

I would love to go to the Grand Prix in Japan. I'd be in heaven looking at their Sophronitis coccineas.

This years Pacific Orchid Exposition is going to be exceptional. I was looking at the vendor list last night and wished I made more money. LOTS MORE. Last year was great, a vendor from the Philippines had a bunch of cheap awesome species and then another from Malaysia had a ton of obscure Bulbophyllum species. The Columbians (Orquide d'valle)are always there selling Pleurothallids as well as Ecuagenera. Then if Boa Vista shows, there will be lots of rupiculous Laelias. Botanica with Angraecoids!

If you couldnt tell Im super excited. Be sure to stop by Gold Country Orchids and say hi if you end up there.

I'd love to visit a big orchid show like Redland's or one of those large shows on the west coast because I'd like to be overwhelmed with orchids and faint with joy. :rofl: Unfortunately, the long drive and the schedule conflicts always turn out to be obstacles. I usually try to visit the local orchid shows and the SEPOS show at Longwood Gardens.

The Fort Lauderdale Ochrid show is a great one. It's coming up in three weeks. Attend if you can. I'll be there.

World Orchid Conference, this would be a huge and amazing event with people from all over the world. What better way to experience the plants? That's why I am going next November. Cannot wait!

Aside from that any show anywhere......