AOS Award and Trustee
I have been a member of the American Orchid Society (AOS) for many years and along the way have had the privilege of writing articles for their Orchids magazine. I finally found my home, however, on their Education Committee four years ago. It was the perfect blending of my two passions: orchids and the education of children. I was very honored when my work on this committee led to not only an unexpected award at the AOS Spring Member's meeting, but an invitation to become a Trustee for AOS. I am looking forward to the next three years serving on the Board of Trustees for such a truly deserving and forward-thinking organization! The following was posted in the AOS April Orchid-Gram.
Smithsonian Associates Native Orchids Video
I am an instructor for the Smithsonian Associates Studio Arts Program. When everything went virtual in April of 2020, they wanted a way to for their instructors to connect with the students. So, they ask us to create a 2-minute video of our "studio". It just so happened that at that time of the year, my "studio" was starting to come alive. I live in southeastern Pennsylvania and grow native orchids in my backyard. Making my video of my newly emerging native orchids was the perfect choice. I've included it below for everyone to enjoy.
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American Orchid Society Webinar
I have added new pages to this website that provide step-by-step instructions that answer some of the more common questions I have received at my classes.
For those of you who may be concerned about the security of purchasing an item through my website, I would like to assure you that all of the purchases and, specifically the credit card information, is handled by Square.com. My site and myself do not have any access to payment information.
Since first publishing Orchid Care: For the Beginner in 2016, the cost to print in color has dropped significantly. I have just completed an edit of my book and hope to have a full-color version out for sale in the next few days. I am also trying to focus on completing the manuscript for my second book, Orchid Care: For the Experienced Grower; however, this fall and winter has me traveling quite a bit to teach orchid classes.
Orchid Care: For the Beginner is now being sold at the Longwood Gardens Gift Shop. It should be coming to the Chicago Botanical Garden by the end of the year; and, continues to be sold at the New York Botanical Gardens. I offer autographed copies to any botanical gardens or bookstores that would like to carry my book. Contact me at basorchidcare@gmail.com.
I'd like to encourage all of you to go to the Junior Flower Show tab, if you haven't done so already. This collaboration between the American Orchid Society (AOS) and the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS) was such a HUGE success. The students at both Academy Park HS and Thomas Mifflin were so excited about this project; and, it was a privilege for me to be able to work with them. We had 31 student orchids in the Philadelphia Flower Show this year. I would especially like to thank their teachers, Colleen DiMaggio and Stacey Dello Buono, as well as Johanna Schoeller from PHS, for all of their hard work and dedication to make this happen. Also, thanks to Elsa Efran of PHS for working with us to create the Youth Orchid class and to Michael Bowell and Sally Gendler, AOS Judges, for doing our Junior Flower Show judging.
Our hope with this Pilot Project was to encourage more orchid societies and organizations to sponsor orchids for the Junior Flower Shows so we can expand it into more schools next year. The students have already been asked to show their orchids again this year at the Southeast Pennsylvania Orchid Society (SEPOS) Show at the Pennsylvania Civic Center on April 5 - 7, 2019. Anyone who may be interested in becoming involved with this project should contact me at basorchidcare@gmail.com.
Our hope with this Pilot Project was to encourage more orchid societies and organizations to sponsor orchids for the Junior Flower Shows so we can expand it into more schools next year. The students have already been asked to show their orchids again this year at the Southeast Pennsylvania Orchid Society (SEPOS) Show at the Pennsylvania Civic Center on April 5 - 7, 2019. Anyone who may be interested in becoming involved with this project should contact me at basorchidcare@gmail.com.
The 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show will be occurring from Friday, March 1, 2019 through Sunday, March 10, 2019. I will, unfortunately, not be speaking this year at the Gardener's Stage; however, autographed copies of my book will still be on sale at the Flower Show Store. I'm also hoping to have a few of my orchids entered in the Orchid Judging. They look beautiful right now - we'll have to see how they hold up until February 28th when I would have to take them down. The picture above is Jen at the 2018 flower show - we never miss!
I have received several emails requesting that I make autographed copies of my book available for the Holiday Season. This is my first foray into actually selling my book through this website, so bare with me, please. You will now notice a "Store" tab and "Cart" tab in the header. I am thrilled to be able to provide this option to my website followers. Currently, my books are available at a cost of $18.95 through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and at several botanic gardens throughout the country. You will be able to purchase autographed copies of Orchid Care: For the Beginner at a sale price of $17.00 including tax and shipping.
Right now, I am able to accept credit card payment through Square. I am also starting off just selling within the United States. The books will be shipped uninsured by United States Postal Service First Class Mail; and I will attempt to ship the books within 2 days of purchase. If you require insurance or Priority Mail, please email me at basorchidcare@gmail.com, as additional shipping charges will need to be added.
Right now, I am able to accept credit card payment through Square. I am also starting off just selling within the United States. The books will be shipped uninsured by United States Postal Service First Class Mail; and I will attempt to ship the books within 2 days of purchase. If you require insurance or Priority Mail, please email me at basorchidcare@gmail.com, as additional shipping charges will need to be added.
Everything Orchids Blog
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This month, I would like to discuss the start of my new Everything Orchids Blog as part of this website. I would also like to introduce my daughter, Jen, who will be administering the Blog for me. Jen is a PhD Candidate at Cornell University in Bioengineering with a concentration in Plant Genetics. She has been at my side since the beginning of this adventure in the spring of 2015. I'm very excited for her to bring her love of and enthusiasm for orchids to my website!
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