Fear not: Orchids to star in annual show, sale

It’s time to feel a little Orchid Love.

That’s the name of this year’s show and sale hosted by the Tropical Plant Society of Modesto, where hundreds of orchids and other plants will be on exhibit and offered for purchase Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3.

The 36th annual event, to be held at Stanislaus Union Elementary School in Modesto, also will include potting demonstrations. Society members will be on hand to answer questions that attendees have about growing tropical plants.

In addition to orchids, the admission-free show will feature bromeliads, African violets and carnivorous plants, show chairperson Susan Wedegaertner said, with about 300 plants on display and another 60-plus for sale.

While other plants will be highlighted, it’s orchids that often get the most attention – and bring out the most hesitation in home growers.

“Orchids are not as frightening as people think they are,” Wedegaertner said of the notion that the flowering plants are hard to maintain.

They are easy to take care of – if you start out with the right type of orchid, she said. Help in finding the right orchids to begin with and other information will be available to novice growers at the event.

The Tropical Plant Society meets regularly the third Tuesday of each month, excluding April because of the show and the summer months since so many people are out of town. There are about 28 members currently, but Wedegaertner said they happily welcome more and will be offering information on the club at the event this weekend.

She said the show annually appeals to a wide range of people.

“It’s basically the ones who want to kind of dip their toe into (growing tropical plants), who really don’t know how to get started and ask questions,” Wedegaertner said, while others “just like pretty flowers.” Still more will be there to check out “something different” in terms of event options in the area.

This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 11:04 AM with the headline "Fear not: Orchids to star in annual show, sale."