The Orchid Garden

Orchids in Florida

Question:

Did the $5 get you a guided trip round the greenhouse, or just the ability to check out their growing area? Scott Great suggestions!  With regard to A World Of Orchids…..when I was in there a few months ago, (my first visit there)  there was a charge of about $5 to actually ’see’ the orchids.  You were welcome to browse in the sales area, but if you wanted to see the display, there was a fee.

It’s $4.50 per adult to get into the conservatory…last time I was there, I was a little less than happy with the selection of plants on display…there were a few plants that were quite interesting (like 40-feet long Vanilla vines snaking up a royal palm), but far less than I expected…lots of Phals…way too many Phals….and the labels were only on the plant pots/baskets themselves…you often had to dig around to find them…I would have hoped for clear labels placed conspicuously near or in the pots. The $4.50 admission can also apply as credit toward a plant purchase…so, you could go, pay to tour the conservatory (and hope to get a better viewing than what I saw), and then get a nice plant using the admission price as credit…

Response:

Great suggestions!  With regard to A World Of Orchids…..when I was in there a few months ago, (my first visit there)  there was a charge of about $5 to actually ’see’ the orchids.  You were welcome to browse in the sales area, but if you wanted to see the display, there was a fee.  

Response:

Did the $5 get you a guided trip round the greenhouse, or just the ability to check out their growing area? Scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Great suggestions!  With regard to A World Of Orchids…..when I was in there a few months ago, (my first visit there)  there was a charge of about $5 to actually ’see’ the orchids.  You were welcome to browse in the sales area, but if you wanted to see the display, there was a fee.

Response:

Be sure to stop at "Art Stone Orchids" in St Petersburg, and see Michael – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be going on a tour of Florida in March and want to stop by as many orchid companys as I can, can anyone give me a few names to check out. I will be starting at the top of the state and going all the way to key west. Its going to be fun, and I cant wait….. — Thanks, Rob http://fly.hiwaay.net/~rjmartin/Orchids.html

Response:

I will be going on a tour of Florida in March

Rob –   If you are interested in a show, the Miami Show is March 5,6,7.  Not sure if there are any others around the state in March, I’m sure there are tho.  Check the AOS site.   From the North to Keys, I would check the following that I know personally: Jacksonville- MAJ Orchids, no email, 904-272-6227    species, esp Carib Orlando/Apopka-      . Miami/        Motes, RF Orchids, Ruben in Orchids, Soroa, Whimsy, Carib,  Homestead      (Homestead/Redlands has about 8-12 vendors within 20 – 30                    minutes of each other) Key West –    Neptune Orchids (havent bought, but like his site) enjoy the warmth, jimwatts

Response:

Rob, If you are looking for orchids in flask (especially Cattleya species) you will find us in Pompano Beach Florida, just north of Ft Lauderdale… we’re about 35 minutes by I-95 from the Miami Orchid Show. http://www.gate.net/~fourmick/flasks/orchid.html Husky Boy Improvements Inc Mick Fournier Orchid breeding and flaskwork Pompano Beach Florida 954-942-3898

Response:

In addition to the other suggestions posted on the NG, when you pass through the Tampa/St.Pete area if you go to Art Stone Orchids [Michael and Paula Polen 727/345-6733] in St.Pete, you should definitely also go see Bud Spence of Florida Native Orchids.  He has a large backyard nursery with about four sizeable greenhouses and lots of unusual, interesting stuff.  Bud’s phone is 727/527-2821 and he is open daily from noon to 5 pm.  You should only call during open hours when they will answer the phone. Prices are reasonable. If you are in Central Florida to go to A World of Orchids you should plan on a side trip to Tropic I Orchids run by Jim & Cynthia Sabetto.  They have a pretty big orchid range in nearby Haines City [just east of Disney World, then south on US H'wy 27 about 7 miles].  They have Catts, Phals, vandaceous, and lots Of Epicattleyas, many using E. tampense.  They have ads in AOS’s ‘Orchids’ so get their phone number from there. Also you can visit Krull-Smith Orchids in Orlando, which is a huge orchid range.  They have Phals, Catts, Paphs, and lots of other orchids. They, like Tropic I Orchids, make many of their own excellent quality hybrids. For vandaceous in South Florida there is Mote’s Orchids for *fabu* stuff. and in Miami area there’s Ruben in Orchids for flasks and hobby flasks of all kinds of orchids at quite reasonable prices. Those are just the highlights I can think of, but of course there are LOTS MORE orchid nurseries in Florida.  Check with the AOS for the ones that are along the route(s) you plan to travel in Florida.  OH… and yes, bring lots of money and a cargo van. Also it’s a very good idea to check with those you plan to visit to make sure they aren’t off doing a show somewhere. And DON’T miss the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota.  The main display house is amazing, plus you can visit the OIC [Orchid Identification Center] which is part of Selby Gardens and is just three blocks away from the gardens.  And there is almost always a botanical exhibition of some sort in the [main] Selby House –or far too many orchid books to buy in their gift shop!  You can spend at least half a day here easily. It’s scary how much there is to do orchidwise in Florida! But remember, it’s not a hobby –it’s a disease… Lastly, while I may be just the teentsyest bit predjudiced, I think you will find the prices on the plants slightly cheaper, the quality equal and the growers friendlier here in west central Florida. Have a great trip!!! Regards, Paul University of South Florida      "Time wounds all heels." -Frank Case Bayboro Campus                       ("Tales of a Wayward Inn") St. Petersburg                  <Eventually I plan to procrastinate. Florida                       Agricultural Zone 10 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be going on a tour of Florida in March and want to stop by as many orchid companys as I can, can anyone give me a few names to check out. I will be starting at the top of the state and going all the way to key west. Its going to be fun, and I cant wait….. — Thanks, Rob http://fly.hiwaay.net/~rjmartin/Orchids.html

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be going on a tour of Florida in March and want to stop by as many orchid companys as I can, can anyone give me a few names to check Stop by Soroa Orchids–its down in the Redlands area–south and west of Miami–just about down to Homestead.  Take the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike and get off at Exit 9B (coconut palm drive).  go west to Krome Ave (sw 177 ave) and north to sw 168 st.  then, turn left (west) and head on out  to 198 ave.  you should see the signs. or, you can take SW 8 th st out to Krome ave and head south.  either way, its out in the boonies, but worth the trip.  they will give you a brochure with a map to several other places. RF orchids is also fabulous–and out that way, too.  you can find them in the Miami phone book. happy orchid hunting–hope you are planning to bring a truck to haul home the goodies… Audrey

We have a van, now I am wondering how much money to bring, sounds like lots of goodies are going to be found. — Thanks, Rob http://fly.hiwaay.net/~rjmartin/Orchids.html

Response:

I will be going on a tour of Florida in March and want to stop by as many orchid companys as I can, can anyone give me a few names to check out. I will be starting at the top of the state and going all the way to key west. Its going to be fun, and I cant wait….. — Thanks, Rob http://fly.hiwaay.net/~rjmartin/Orchids.html

Response:

I will be going on a tour of Florida in March and want to stop by as many orchid companys as I can, can anyone give me a few names to check out. I will be starting at the top of the state and going all the way to key west. Its going to be fun, and I cant wait….. — Thanks, Rob http://fly.hiwaay.net/~rjmartin/Orchids.html

I would certainly recommend taking the drive along Alligator Alley through the ‘glades and Big Cypress….near Immokalee, there’s the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, where one can see several native orchids growing (and possibly in bloom if you’re there at the right time). Another interesting place to visit, orchid-wise, is A World of Orchids in Kissimmee, FL (just south of Orlando).

Response:

A good web site is RF Orchids at http://www.rforchids.com . They are in South Florida and I believe they are part of the redlands orchid group. If you ask there they will probably be able to direct you to many locations since there are numerous growers in a pretty small area. Hope this helps! <Phil —

Response:

I will be going on a tour of Florida in March and want to stop by as many orchid companys as I can, can anyone give me a few names to check

Stop by Soroa Orchids–its down in the Redlands area–south and west of Miami–just about down to Homestead.  Take the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike and get off at Exit 9B (coconut palm drive).  go west to Krome Ave (sw 177 ave) and north to sw 168 st.  then, turn left (west) and head on out  to 198 ave.  you should see the signs. or, you can take SW 8 th st out to Krome ave and head south.  either way, its out in the boonies, but worth the trip.  they will give you a brochure with a map to several other places. RF orchids is also fabulous–and out that way, too.  you can find them in the Miami phone book. happy orchid hunting–hope you are planning to bring a truck to haul home the goodies… Audrey

Response:

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