It was in the college days of 1979 that I first encountered orchids while going in for a routine physical exam at a doctor’s office. While there, I noticed a large Cattleya orchid on his desk. I asked the fateful question: “What kind of flower is that?” To which the physician laughingly replied, “You do NOT want to know!” As a collegiate, I liked nothing better than an intriguing mystery. A short story by the doctor about an all-consuming hobby ensued and within two days I had gotten two orchids of my own.

During those college years in Northfield, Minnesota, I was put in charge of the St. Olaf greenhouse and its repository of orchids. I knew little about the plants but read everything I could get my hands on. After graduating, I moved to take a music and academic teaching position on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. There I happened upon a sidewalk sale by the local orchid society. I joined the group and learned much about growing in a tropical arid environment. Also, I learned that the island had several native orchid species, which I took great interest in, and won my first AOS award for Encyclia bifida “Loves Favor” AM/AOS. Each Saturday morning I would hop in my Jeep and look for populations of orchids that I could map and study. It was quite fascinating!

Leaving the island three years later, I found myself trying to take 10 boxes of plants through customs back to Minnesota. Little did I know that the customs encounter would be easiest part. It was a totally new experience trying to grow plants in a cold Midwestern state. Many plants did not survive. Many did! After a few months I relocated to Minneapolis and joined the Orchid Society of Minnesota, learning that orchids actually could be grown quite successfully in the stifling environment of a house surrounded by ice and snow. Of course you had to learn to grow them a bit differently, but they did thrive and bloom. Amazing!

During those return years in Minnesota, I became a Master Gardener, worked for several garden centers including a management position for the largest retail garden center in the Midwest, served on various committees and offices in the Orchid Society, and lectured to many garden clubs in and around the state. I also had the privilege of traveling extensively around the United States, Europe and Hawaii for my career, visiting all of the major orchid nurseries. I also served as the advertising manager for the International Phalaenopsis Alliance (IPA) for three years. It was also during this time that I started to turn my avid hobby into a small business. That eventually led me to build a large 14x22 climate controlled grow room in the basement of our home. There was an elaborate stacking light-bench system which allowed me to grow up to 1200 orchids. (Did I mention taking them all out in the Spring and carting them all back in before Fall?...)

We had made overtures to buying several small garden centers and “going commercial” during those years, but it was not until 2001 when we moved to Florida with a small collection of plants, that the dream became a reality. We currently grow our beauties in a 30x100 greenhouse which has several micro-climates for our plants. As always, I strive to grow and sell the best quality orchid plants for all our customers, and to build a lasting reputation in the industry as one of the very best. My deepest thanks to my wife Mary, my kids, and all those who patronize our business.

Assistant Grower John

Much successful growing and God Bless.
Jim