St. Croix Orchid Society’s Show “Orchid Diamond Extravaganza!” Opens Friday

The Great Hall at St. George Village Botanical Garden will provide a spacious and historic venue for the St. Croix Orchid Society’s 51st annual orchid show and sale. The show celebrates the society’s 60th anniversary.

The 51st annual Orchid Show and Sale will take place Friday through Sunday at the St. George Village Botanical Garden on St. Croix. 

“Orchid Diamond Extravaganza” will be open on Friday from 2 to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 pm. Admission is $5. Children under 12 are free with adult admission.

Along with the colorful orchid displays, three vendors will offer a wide array of orchid plants for sale. Raffle tickets will be on sale for poster artist Toni Lance’s original framed watercolor as well as for orchids and items donated by local businesses. The drawing will be at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Winners do not have to be present.

This is a close up of a portion of the painting by Toni Lance that makes up this year’s poster. The original painting will be raffled off. (Submitted by SCOS)

Three workshops will be offered:

Saturday
10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Repotting Your Orchids by SCOS Board Member Michelle Thurland-Martinez
Bring your own orchid, growing medium will be supplied.

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Orchids 101 by SCOS Board Member Rosemary Walcott
How to choose easily grown orchids and how to take care of them.

Sunday
1 to 2 p.m.
Reading Your Environment for Successful Orchid Culture by SCOS member Angie Ortiz
Learn best practices for growing orchids wherever you live.

The show will be judged in accordance with the American Orchid Society criteria and is registered with them. AOS judges will be flown in. According to Susan Kraeger, St. Croix Orchid Society president, the plants and blooms in the show will be measured against worldwide AOS standards.

Orchids from the 2017 show. (Source photo by Linda Morland)

The St. Croix Orchid Society has contributed to the St. George Village Botanical Garden in the past year. A comfortable seating area has been added to the Sugar Factory 1,000 Orchid Memorial Garden to enhance the enjoyment of the garden. The orchid house has been completely refurbished with a $30,000 AARP Community Challenge Grant.