April 2024 Newsletter

Greetings Members and Orchid Lovers,

What a great time of year—warmer weather, Spring is in the air—and the Asheville Orchid Festival is just around the corner! Last year we had record crowds and expect this year’s attendance to be strong once again. Thus, on Friday April 12th we will open to the public from 4:00-8:00pm, extending our usual 2 day show to 3. (On Apr 13/14, Sat. & Sun., we will have regular hours: 9:00—5:00pm.)

Leslie and I have surrendered our garage and driveway to the building of a framework for this year’s exhibit, House of Orchids. With the help of many volunteers—thanks for signing up!!—we will assemble the backdrop for another great exhibit at N.C. Arboretum. But WE NEED YOUR ORCHIDS!! It is your orchids the public comes to see.

Last week, I sent out an email detailing the plant registration process. If you haven’t looked at it yet, please do. There is one additional task we would like to add. To help make things easier for Marion Allen, please title your files with your own name when you send it to Marion. If you have any questions call or email Marion or me. Marion’s contacts are  marionjallen7447@gmail.com   828-891-6635; and mine, G_Ram@yahoo.com   828-691-1121. Please reach out to us, we are here to help. Your flowers, each and every one, will make this show great!!

When should you bring your orchids to the Education Center at NC Arboretum? Early Thursday morning, April 11th. The earlier the better—gates open at 8:00am. All plants must arrive by 12:00pm. I will be at the Arboretum all day Wednesday if you need to drop off a day ahead. Be sure all your plants have your name on them, along with a list of what you have brought.

All the information about the Asheville Orchid Festival is on our website at wncos.org. I encourage everyone to post on social media to promote this event.

The Show-and-Tell tables at our recent meetings have been fantastic. Since Asheville Orchid Festival will take the place of April’s monthly meeting, get those orchids to the Arboretum for the ultimate Show and Tell!!!

I’ll see you at the NC Arboretum!