San Diego CA— San Diego County Orchid Society (SDCOS) will host its large annual international spring show and sale – this year themed Orchid Magic – from Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20. The event, which features the world’s most exotic flowers, is expected to draw a large crowd of orchid and plant enthusiasts from across Southern California, in part because the longstanding Santa Barbara International Orchid Show, originally scheduled for the previous weekend, has been cancelled.
“Visitors to this show will discover world class displays, hundreds of magnificent plants, and top orchid vendors. They can hear from expert speakers about growing orchids and orchid conservation,” said SDCOS President Debby Halliday. “We invite everyone to come and see, learn, and shop at this grand celebration of beauty and color.”
Orchid Magic will take place at San Diego’s Scottish Rite Center, located in Mission Valley, where local collectors, societies, and vendors will design and stage multiple large-scale orchid displays. These stunning displays will feature impressive specimens, locally-bred hybrids, and rare species plants from around the world. The show will also include dozens of individual plants presented by both amateur and professional growers. The annual event brings in judges from the American Orchid Society, the Cymbidium Society of America, and the SDCOS to award ribbons, awards, and cash prizes to the top plants and displays.
A number of San Diego’s world-renowned orchid nurseries and breeders will join other notable commercial growers from elsewhere in California and abroad in hosting sales booths at the show. Among the vendors selling orchids and a selection of other collectible plants are Andy’s Orchids, Cal-Orchid, Casa de las Orquideas, Ecuagenera, Mundiflora, Orchid Design, Sunset Valley Orchids, and Tuyet’s Orchids. A full list of confirmed vendors is available on the SDCOS website.
SDCOS will present four orchid classes on Saturday and four on Sunday, allowing Orchid Magic visitors to gain first-hand knowledge about topics such as caring for a new orchid purchase, reblooming an orchid, repotting an orchid, and orchids to grow outdoors. The society will also have free printed materials available for visitors to take home, including care sheets for each of a dozen different type of orchids.
“As someone who was intimidated by orchids five years ago,” shared Ashley Grable, SDCOS Second Vice President, “my favorite aspect of our shows is the opportunity to learn from some of the country’s top orchid growers and sellers. This spring show brings together a large group of notable, knowledgeable, and charming orchid lovers who are delighted to share their tips with newbies and collectors, alike.”
The doors of the Scottish Rite Center – located at 1895 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, CA, 92108 – will open to the public 3-7pm on Friday, 9am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday. Admission is $10 for one day, $12 for the weekend, and free for children under 12. Vendors will replenish plant stock at the opening of each day. For more details and an online discount coupon, visit https://www.sdorchids.com/SpringShow_2022.html.
About San Diego County Orchid Society
Established in 1947, San Diego County Orchid Society is one of the nation’s largest orchid groups. The mission of SDCOS is to promote interest in orchids and their cultivation, to educate by exchanging information and experiences related to successful orchid culture, and to support the conservation of orchids in the wild. In addition to its annual spring show, the society hosts smaller quarterly shows and sales in Balboa Park, as well as monthly in-person and online membership meetings with culture classes, keynote speakers and member plants in bloom.