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…
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.
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.
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 Triangle Orchid Society presents their annual orchid show ‘Fall For Orchids’. Please click here for all the details.
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…
The Asheville Orchid Festival Will dominate the April calendar. There will not be an official meeting in April. Please come to the NC Arboretum and celebrate our annual grand orchid show.
Calling all volunteers. If you have stepped up and signed up as a Asheville Orchid Festival volunteer, you need to be at this meeting. If you have not signed up, you will want to be in attendance to learn more about our biggest event of the year.
Genealogy research has become a hot topic with TV programs and Software companies tying to tell you about your genetic connections to the past. Learning about the background of your orchids can also be a fun extension of your hobby… read more
Mark Reinke with Marble Branch Farms in Walhalla South Carolina, is a long time friend of the WNCOS. Mark is a well known and respected orchid grower and hybridizer. Read more…
Graham Ramsey and Leslie Keller would like to invite all WNCOS members and their significant others to the annual WNCOS Holiday Social. This cover dish event will be on December 10th from 1:00-3:00pm, at 53 Crowningway Drive, Asheville 28804. Read more…
November’s meeting will be a great opportunity to learn about New Zealand Tree Fern. Tree Fern is a very unique medium for orchids that has only been on the market for a few years. Read more…
Sarah Hurdel with Needmore Orchids will teach us about this often misunderstood, yet surprisingly easy to grow genus. Her program offers an introduction to the species, hybrids and closely related genera, with a detailed look at cultural needs and what makes this the ultimate showy orchid for growers without a greenhouse! Read more…
Stephen Benjamin started growing orchids , mostly Cattleya’s, when I was nine years old under lights in the basement. After graduating Xavier University with a degree in Biology, I moved to Kentucky to help them make better Bourbon whiskey. Read more…
On August 13th, a team of American Orchid Society judges from the Carolina Judging Center will be our guests for an afternoon of orchid fun. If you have never experienced an AOS judging event, you definitely don’t want to miss this. Read more…
Art Chadwick holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State and an MBA from James Madison University. He founded Chadwick & Son Orchids Inc in 1989 with his father who had been growing orchids since 1943. Read more…
If there is anyone who is worthy of the title Orchid Expert, its Ron McHatton. Ron is Chief Education and Science Officer for the American Orchid Society (AOS). Read more…
Jeremy is a photographer for Carolina's Judging Center, and his photos have featured in Orchids magazine and Orchid Digest. He is the winner of the 2020 Roy T. Fukimura Award for his photograph of Bob Fuch's Aerides lawrenciae 'Crownfox Velvet'. Read more…
This meeting will prove to be loads of fun for the novias and the most experienced orchid growers. The plan is to have group discussions on a variety of potting techniques, potting mediums and general good orchid culture habits. Read more…
Asheville Orchid Festival Schedule
Friday March 31th 9:00am American Orchid Society Judging Closed session. WNCOS members only.
Saturday April 1st 9:00am - 5:00pm Open to the public
Sunday April 2nd 9:00am - 5:00pm Open to the public
Admission for all ages: $5.00 Children under 12 are free. Admission includes all exhibits, all sales areas, and all orchid programs and demonstrations.
For Arboretum non-members and AOS non-members, a daily Arboretum parking fee applies.
Visit the ‘Festival ‘ page for more details about the show.
This is a very important meeting for all members, volunteers, and anyone that wants to be up to date with the 2023 Asheville Orchid Festival. We will cover everything from grooming your plants for our show exhibit to what food you can bring to keep all our volunteers and vendors well fed during the event. We will cover the Arboretum Members Preview party and how to get your weekend parking passes. With just a few weeks left until opening day, this will be our last chance to gather as a group and coordinate our show efforts.
Jeremy is a photographer for Carolina's Judging Center, and his photos have featured in Orchids magazine and Orchid Digest. He is the winner of the 2020 Roy T. Fukimura Award for his photograph of Bob Fuch's Aerides lawrenciae 'Crownfox Velvet'. Read more…
Will is an Associate Judge in the Carolinas Judging Center and Vice President of the Triad Orchid Society. Read more…
Gardening has been a major part of Andrea’s life ever since she was a young child. At eight years old she had her first hobby greenhouse where she collected and grew a collection orchids and other tropical plants. Read more…
Do you have some orchid divisions, extra plants or other orchid related items you want to sell, trade or give away? Click here to learn more.
Who: Graham Ramsey
What: How I Grow My Phragmipediums
When: September 11th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: Asheville Visitor Center 36 Montford Avenue, Asheville NC 28801
Graham Ramsey, Vice President of the Western North Carolina Orchid Society, will share his new program “How I Grow my Phragmipediums.” Graham has been growing phrags for over 15 years and was mentored by the best, the late great H.P. Norton. Click Here for more information.
