Growers will share ‘joy of orchids’ at annual show in Upper St. Clair
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Beautiful, exotic blooms aren’t the only draw at the Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania’s annual orchid show.
This year’s two-day event also will include a silent auction, an hourly raffle of orchid plants and orchid-related items, a sales area, a repotting table and educational opportunities.
Show hours will be noon-8 p.m. March 19 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 20 at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, across from South Hills Village in Upper St Clair.
The theme, “The Joy of Orchids,” recognizes the joy the beautiful plants bring to growers and to those who take pleasure in observing them. The show includes a variety of displays, from a large display organized by the society as a whole and individual displays by members and other contributors.
“The displays are often crafted and beautifully made to look like scenes,” said member and publicity volunteer Natalie Turicik of Kennedy Township. “The society’s exhibit usually will include more than 100 orchids. Others can be anything from one plant to a few dozen.”
Society members and expert orchid growers will be available to provide information about growing orchids, and free educational seminars will be held both days of the show.
“The lectures are for people who want to dive a little more into growing orchids,” Turicik said. “They’re not really botanical lectures; they’re tailored more to the general public, not to the growers.”
Topics have yet to be announced.
At the sales area, attendees will be able to purchase orchids from a wide range of vendors from the eastern United States. While many plants are perfect for beginning orchid growers, there also will be a large selection of rare and unusual orchids for the more adventurous or experienced grower.
Attendees also can bring their own plants to the repotting table, where they can watch and learn as the orchids are repotted by society members. Advice is free, and the average price of repotting a 6-inch or smaller pot is $5. Larger or complicated repotting is priced on a case-by-case basis.
The society’s last show was held in 2020, just two weeks prior to the pandemic shutdown.
Admission is $5, or free to society members and children under age 18. Parking is free.
The Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania was organized in 1954 to advance the propagation, horticulture and preservation of orchid species and hybrids. The OSWP is a member of the American Orchid Society, the Orchid Digest Corp. and the National Capital Judging Center.
The annual show is part of the society’s educational mission. For more information about the show or the society, visit oswp.org.