Stewart's Orchids
 

Hi all, I am curious about what happened to Stewart's Orchids. Heard that they went bankrupt. This may well be old news, sad to see such a large and highly respected grower disappear.

Sad to say, it's been a few years already. I found out about the bankruptcy by calling the local paper. I was really upset that I missed the auction. I would have flown to Mississippi in a heartbeat! Hope someone out there grabbed up those famous plants - or even knew what they were looking at...

I know this thread is very old, but I just found it today. The Stewart plants were auctioned. If I'm not mistaken, a nursery owner from Lafayette, LA was the person who oversaw the sale of the plants. He and I are good friends, and I know for a fact he got many of the stud plants. I have a few unbloomed seedling Encyclias from a Stewart cross that hasn't been named yet.

It's not Bob Chauvin, is it?

Yep. If I remember what he told me correctly, he oversaw the plant auction for the liquidation of Stewart's, and I know he had some of the plants. He's since sold off many, though. Mr. Bob's great. I spend hours at his greenhouses each time my family goes to visit.

I dont think he spends much time with his greenhouse now. He is a golf pro at one of the golf courses in his home town. He only does a few shows these days. I went by his greenhouse about a month ago, he wasn't in town, and didn't look very well kept. I think he orders plants for a show and doesnt grow many of them for his shows.

Mark

Yes, he's a golf pro at one of the local courses. I think he's at his greenhouse once or twice a week. He had a few trees fall on the greenhouses in one of the recent hurricanes, Gustav, I think. He orders stuff for shows, so he can have stuff in spike or in bloom. He does bring some from his own growing if they are blooming or if they are species or an easily recognizable hybrid.

thats the way most do it these days I have found out. What doesn't get sold at the shows goes into their so called "personal collection". Hawaii is big on growing out flask and seedlings these days for minimal cost to the Finishing greenhouses/retail. Very few spend the time and money needed to grow out seedlings in 4 to 5 years for a bloomer.. Just makes sense to do it this way for many small owners. Dont think less of them bec of this or be disappointed that they actually didnt grow it. Much like many of us here go buy plants then post em. Few of us actually grow out our plants from seed or meristem clones. Always exceptions.

I was desperately hoping to get some more orchids from Stewart's - I got from them when they were still in LA(?) and every single flower was beyond belief. They had been taken over, moved, then the new owners withered too. So sad.

I miss Stewart’s. Spent many an hour shopping at the LA location for incredible Catts…!