April 2026 newsletter

Boy oh boy, where do I start! WNCOS knocked this year's Asheville Orchid Festival out of the ballpark, and it’s all because of you. Our members made the event another great success due to contributions of time and energy, a fabulous array of orchids and simply by showing up. Overall show attendance tallied at 3171, plus a great number of youngsters. There were a number of great displays as well this year, including our own, which took home the American Orchid Society(AOS) Show Trophy. I would also like to note a few special individual awards. WNCOS member Michaela Orwig received an 85 point AM/AOS award on her Phalaenopsis Salu’s Fragrancy, her very first AOS award. Her stunning orchid also received the Best of Class Trophy. Way to go Michaela! Member Joe Armstrong also received an AOS award on one of his outstanding red Phalaenopsis. Pete Stegemann won the Vanda Best of Class Trophy for his Renanthera citrina, and I am privileged to have won the Dendrobium Best of Class for the giant Dendrobium chrysotoxum that sat high atop the drawbridge. I think all WNCOS members deserve a big round of applause.

After such a well attended Asheville Orchid Festival, we anticipate seeing quite a few new faces at our next meeting on April12th, just in time for a very special guest speaker, Dr. Martin Motes. Martin and his son Bart own and operate Motes Orchids in Redland Florida. Motes Orchids is one of the leading breeders of Vanda orchids in the world. Martin will be providing orchids for our raffle table, and also welcomes pre-orders which he will bring with him to the meeting. If you plan to pre-order here are some important instructions: Motes Orchids website is motesorchids.com. Be sure to use our meeting address for your “shipping” address (9 Genevieve Circle, Asheville NC 28802). After you enter this address, use the code WESTERN and that will eliminate shipping charges. I hope to see you at the meeting on April 12th at 9 Genevieve Circle, Asheville. The meeting starts at 2:00pm but come early and socialize with your orchid friends. And don’t forget your Show-and-Tell plants!