Are you a fan of any and everything "jewel orchid?" Do you like them but need a little extra help growing them? Then this is the talk for you! Featured in a 2020 American Orchid Society webinar, this talk strictly focuses on jewel orchid species and how to grow the many different genera that are classified as jewel orchids. Not only is it filled with detailed pictures of these plants' beautiful foliage, but it also places an emphasis on flowers, something that is often overlooked in jewel orchids. This talk is a beginner-friendly talk that covers a lot of culture, so a piece of scratch paper might be recommended to those really wanting to get the most from it

This talk includes a range of topics all designed to help both new and experienced growers become better at understanding orchid names, the differences between species, varieties, hybrids and complex hybrids, where to find information on species and hybrids, what are clones versus seed grown orchids, what to look for in terms of awarded parents and what do awards mean along with personal tips I look for when shopping for new orchids.

Vanda sanderiana whose large full flowers which have set the standard for Vanda breeding unfortunately is a very large, slow growing, late maturing plant which requires very bright light and exceptionally warm temperatures. Other Vanda species have broader leaves which like Phalaenopsis are efficient light gatherers allowing them and their hybrids to mature rapidly, flowering early on vigorously rooting plants. Unlike the sea level dwelling V. sanderiana, many Vanda species are mountain plants which prefer intermediate temperatures. Read more…

Mike Mims is an energetic Phalaenopsis grower and hybridizer from Asheville, North Carolina. His focus remains steady with fragrant, novelty Phalaenopsis orchids. Phalaenopsis species such as bellina, violacea, fragrant primaries and complex novelties are of strong interest to him. Mike has been growing orchids for 25 years, while breeding his favorite Phalaenopsis for nearly 20 years. Read more…

Troubleshooting Your Orchid, presented by Bridget Uzar with Carter and Holmes, includes common issues like plants not flowering, overgrown or dehydrated plants, insects, diseases and virus.  This is especially useful in identifying insect and pathogens that might infect your collection

The Western North Carolina Orchid Society is very excited to have the opportunity to celebrate the holidays in the Ivy Building this year. It has been such a joy to have this venue as our home base for all our society’s events.

This will be a cover dish party, so everyone break out your favorite recipes and bake, make, and bring something to share with everyone. WNCOS will supply the main course of turkey and ham along with all the light beverages. Feel free to bring other sprits of your choice.

All members attending the party can expect a nice holiday gift orchid to take home.

I hope to see everyone there.

This talk is not a normal how-to-grow talk, but a compilation of tips and tricks learned over the years to make any grower, both novice and expert, better enjoy the art of growing orchids. Keith shares tips on specific culture that makes the difference between regular ho-hum blooming to having blooms worthy of awards both by the AOS and on show tables. Read more…

We are planning a huge orchid auction so please keep checking in!

We will be building a working plant list as they become available. Click here for an up to date plant list.

Bidders can expect complimentary hors d’ oeuvres, snacks and drinks(non-alcoholic)

Read more…

Please come out to hear Jason Harpster delve into the fascinating genus of Angraecoids. This is an orchid we all need in our collection, and we can all grow, with a little help from Jason.

Jason Harpster is the chair of the Carolinas Judging Center and a certified American Orchid Society judge. Based in Southern Pines, NC, Jason curates a personal orchid collection of over 1,200 plants, including more than 500 unique species across 100+ genera. Read more…

Join WNCOS for an August field trip to Ironwood Estates Orchids. Phyllis and Dale Ericson have been great friends of the WNCOS for longer than I can remember. Ironwood Estates is a family owned greenhouse that have tons of quality orchids for sale. And they have a little bit of everything. Click here to visit their website. They will be offering 10% discount on all purchases over $50. Read more…

Orchid Mythbusters- The Truth Behind the Tales. For as many years as hobbyists have been collecting orchids, there have been myths regarding them. We will explore many common (and uncommon) misconceptions about growing and propagating orchids.  In the digital age, we rely too much on simply what we read online which can lead to poor growing choices. Read more…

The program Mark has in store for us is ‘A Baker’s Dozen’. He will be teaching us about 13 Cattleya species we will want to learn more about. Because he is considered an expert on this genus, this talk will be full of very useful informative. Of course, Mark plans to talk all about the culture of these plants and will take all the questions you can throw at him. He will also be filling the raffle table with an abondance of his orchids. Read more…

The boom of new, effective, and inexpensive grow lights has filled many hobbyists with an excitement to expand their growing area into previously unusable spaces. However, the technology and terms behind these grow lights has created an equally large flood of confusion about "which light is right?" This talk explains how to navigate this newer method of growing without all the confusing terms and graphs. We also discuss several ways to use your new lights, ranging from organized, efficient setups to aesthetic, home-grown displays. Read more…

So, you just returned home from the Asheville Orchid Festival with a box full of new orchids. Now what! Maybe you’re not quite sure what proper care is required, and you want to learn more about them. You’re in luck. The WNCOS April meeting is planning to have some of our more knowledgeable members available to discuss, well… anything you want to discuss. Come ask all those questions you have been wanting to ask. This will be a great time to share tricks and tips on growing orchids.

Not a member yet? That’s okay, all orchid lovers are welcome.

Calling all WNCOS volunteers! It’s time to rally the troops and prepare for the 2025 Asheville Orchid Festival. Because our show is put on totally by member volunteers, it is extremely important to come to the March meeting so we can coordinate our efforts. Whether you have signed up yet or not, this is a great opportunity to learn about how the Asheville Orchid Festival works and how you might help.

Of course, all members can make the most important contribution of all, and that is to bring in your blooming orchids for our fabulous exhibit. This is the ultimate Show and Tell. See you at the meeting.

Carlos Ayala began growing orchids nearly a decade ago and quickly developed a passion for the unique characteristics of Catasetum orchids. Through sharing his journey on social media, Carlos discovered a love for connecting with other enthusiasts and sharing knowledge about orchid care. Read more…

 In May of 2024, WNCOS President Graham Ramsey and wife, Leslie Ann Keller, traveled to London for their first immersion into the British Spectacular—Chelsea Flower Show! During this event, as a representative of the American Orchid Society, Graham helped staff the unique Orchids In The Wild exhibit. 

   For our November meeting, Leslie will share images and tales of the Brits’ obsession with all things flowers-and-gardens, the extraordinary fanfare that is Chelsea. Please join us on November 10th, starting at 2:00 p.m., at the historic Ivy Building on the AB Tech campus, 9 Genevieve Circle, Asheville.

Leslie and I invite all members and their significant others to join us at our home for the annual cover-dish WNCOS Holiday Social—on Sunday, December 8th, from 1:00 to 3:00. We will supply the traditional sliced meats, ham and turkey, as well as light beverages. We ask that members bring a favorite dish to share, and any additional festive spirits they so desire. Also, a Holiday Orchid Raffle will send each member home with a special orchid surprise!

The annual Holiday Social is a great time to sit back and relax, visit with your fellow orchid enthusiasts. If you are planning to attend, please RSVP to my email G_ram@yahoo.com. See address details below:

Leslie Keller and Graham Ramsey

53 Crowningway Drive

Asheville 28804

Graham’s cell 828-691-1121

The WNCOS Auction has been canceled. Please stay safe.

THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED

We are excited to have Russ Vernon with New Vision Orchids coming to Asheville to teach us about the beautiful Odontoglossums. If you don’t have any Odontoglossums in your collection, you should. And now is your chance. Russ will be bringing plenty of orchids to sell at our June 9th meeting. To learn more about Russ and a full life of orchids, read below.

We have a special guest speaker lined up for August. Bill Thoms is well known in the orchid world as one of the best growers out there. Bill is a long time friend of WNCOS and always leaves a lasting wealth of knowledge when he is in Asheville. His scheduled program is Growing and Showing Specimen Plants. Specimen plants is one of Bill’s specialties so we are in for a real treat. Read more…

Back by popular demand, Stephen Benjamin will be our guest speaker for July. We are in for a special treat. Stephen plans to hold a hands on workshop on how to mount orchids. He will be supplying all members in attendance with the mounting material needed. WNCOS will be supplying each member with an orchid from Carter and Holmes to mount under Stephen’s guidance. Everyone will go home with their newly mounted orchid as a gift from Stephen and the WNCOS. Read more

We are excited to have Russ Vernon with New Vision Orchids coming to Asheville to teach us about the beautiful Odontoglossums. If you don’t have any Odontoglossums in your collection, you should. And now is your chance. Russ will be bringing plenty of orchids to sell at our June 9th meeting. To learn more about Russ and a full life of orchids, read below.

This month will be a great time for new members, old members, experts and novice alike. Is your orchid just sitting there doing nothing. Does it have these weird spots on the leaves. Bring it to our Mother’s Day meeting and let’s try to figure it out. Read more…