Oak Hill--Another one bites the dust?

[stonedragonfarms]

It will be interesting to see if any of the vendors in the area bought out their collection/stock; I would imagine that Orchids Ltd, Hausermann's or Natt's would be logical buyers...

[sweetjblue]

Direct from the horses' mouth

"Business is not closed, only selling retail at the store sight, not doing internet sales."

So Oak Hill has not gone the way of the dinosaur and, perhaps once spring arrives and weather gets warm, they will resume internet sales.


Judi

[Leafmite]

Sadly, I think they are completely done with internet sales and are just going to sell off the remainder of their stock. In the past years, they kept their offerings online while they went on a shipping hiatus. I know because I made a wish list last winter and ordered as soon as they began to ship in the spring.

[Kevinator]

Ironically, on the topic of young people growing orchids, I believe that the group is slowly growing. I myself started at 10 and now I'm planning to keep this as a lifelong hobby. As long as we can try and convince the public, species orchids can still be preserved in the US.

For Oak hill however...I think they're done. Its very saddening since I've been hearing so much about them, especially in their success of growing the ghost orchid from seed.

[OfLeafandLimb]

As far as I'm concerned, the moment that Herman Pigors' family retired and sold Oak Hill, it ceased to be Oak Hill. The remaining entity didn't count. I have since begun looking at Windswept in Time as my primary orchid source. So far, so good.

This also brings me to the discussion on drawing youth to the orchid community. I've been attending shows for over ten years, and growing orchids for over twelve. I bought my first orchid when I was 22. I'm a very recognizable person, and many people remember me when I see them each year. Still, some vendors speak condescendingly. Subsequently, I walk away. It's one of the reasons I was such a loyal Oak Hill customer. Greg always spoke to me more like a peer than a novice. Yes, he would give me growing information on the plants I bought, and I was always grateful for it; it's nice to get the background on any new plant from its grower before diving into research. The difference is that he approached me with the presumption that I understood what he was saying. He showed me respect. So did Liese on the occasions when I visited their greenhouse.

When I come to shows, I'm there more for camaraderie than for mentoring. Of course I still want to learn things. This is an enormous field of study, and there is always something to learn, but I want to exchange ideas, not be instructed. I want to gush about favorite plants, taste in flowers, stories of where I've seen orchids in the wild, and hear other people's related experiences. It's difficult to get into those conversations when older growers won't take us seriously, presumably due to our age, and the conversation never moves past trying to establish that we are invested in the hobby, and have some experience. It's disappointing to be continually relegated to the conversational kiddie table.

People will continue buying orchids without joining societies. I don't think the hobby itself will go away. If we want to maintain an orchid community, however, we need to treat incoming young persons with respect. Age and knowledge don't necessarily go hand in hand, and no one has all the answers. We never know what they have to offer, and so long as we are treating young collectors as students we must instruct, we will not find out. Being part of the orchid community should be fun, not formal, and I think that's the trick.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by OfLeafandLimb

I want to gush about favorite plants, taste in flowers, stories of where I've seen orchids in the wild, and hear other people's related experiences. It's difficult to get into those conversations when older growers won't take us seriously, presumably due to our age, and the conversation never moves past trying to establish that we are invested in the hobby, and have some experience.

With regard to the vendors, I suspect that part of the issue is that they are there to sell plants -- not socialize. They may be of the mind that if they get caught up in a social conversation, they may miss/overlook a customer waiting in the wings with a Q. As selling plants is the goal, such an attitude (if that is the case) would be understandable. For the social aspect, that definitely is where a good os can be very satisfying.

Where you at the recent Lansing show?

[Daethen]

Yes, Oak Hill is no more. I stopped the other day and you cannot walk through the wonderful greenhouses anymore. They have one small room that they bring out a few that are in flower. The mounted plants that they have left are tiny and sad looking. They are only going to keep up with cyms and phals. Sad.

[OfLeafandLimb]

Originally Posted by Paul

With regard to the vendors, I suspect that part of the issue is that they are there to sell plants -- not socialize. They may be of the mind that if they get caught up in a social conversation, they may miss/overlook a customer waiting in the wings with a Q. As selling plants is the goal, such an attitude (if that is the case) would be understandable. For the social aspect, that definitely is where a good os can be very satisfying.

Where you at the recent Lansing show?

When vendors are busy, I certainly don't expect them to chat me up. I do expect a pleasant attitude, though. I don't think it's too much to ask for someone to at least be polite.

Yes, I was at the Lansing show this past weekend. I bought a Ceratostylis rubra, and a Bulbopyllum carunculatum x self (orange form). Did you also attend? What did you buy?

[Paul]

Originally Posted by OfLeafandLimb

Yes, I was at the Lansing show this past weekend. I bought a Ceratostylis rubra, and a Bulbopyllum carunculatum x self (orange form). Did you also attend? What did you buy?

Did indeed attend -- I was helping out with sales for one of the vendors (Roberts Flower Supply). Didn't buy anything -- well not any plants. After all was packed up at show's end, though, I did hit the Dairy Store for ice cream (MSU makes their own).

[OfLeafandLimb]

That's quite a feat! I think I've only attended one or two shows where I didn't buy anything. I came pretty close to buying a Coryanthes, since Littlefrog had a couple, and C. macrantha has been on my wish list for years. I'm trying to keep an eye out for a Gongora maculata, too. One day!