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Monday, November 5, 2001
Orchid event draws about 800 people
People gathered to learn more about intricacies of growing the flowers and to view thousands
By Sara Lee Fernandez
Caller-Times

David Adame/Caller-Times

David and Carolyn Swiler admire a table of orchids Sunday afternoon at the American Orchid Society’s 2001 Orchid Odyssey at the Omni Bayfront Hotel. Several thousand orchids, vendors and exhibits from all over the world were featured.

   The amount of light various orchids need was a perplexing and weighty issue for some of the people attending Sunday's session of "2001 Orchid Odyssey" at the Omni Bayfront Hotel.
   The South Texas Orchid Society was host to the American Orchid Society's orchid odyssey, which lasted four days and helped people learn of all that goes into growing orchids, such as light issues.
   The delicate looking flowers, whose petals turn brownish yellow if touched by human hands, are also known to be a cantankerous flower for growers, refusing to grow or multiply if the light and temperature aren't just right or the plants don't like where they are placed, growers said.
   Harold Garner, president of the South Texas Orchid Society, and Kenneth Dungan, staging director for the event, said it took three years to place and execute the four days of meetings and activities that drew about 800 people.
   Nina Johnson, who co-chaired the event with her husband, Herman, said that the event featured several thousand orchids, vendors and exhibits from all over the world.
   The area chapter of the orchid society, which has about 50 members, received first place in the most artistic display category.

David Adame/Caller-Times

A Psychopsis Mendenhall orchid greets visitors at the American Orchid Society’s 2001 Orchid Odyssey.

   Garner and Dungan said that they each got involved with orchids about nine years ago and attended an amateur orchid growing class together.
   "They are such a beautiful flower," Dungan said. "They aren't expensive, well some of them are, and they aren't that hard to grow. Well, some of them can be."
   Garner, like Johnson, said they are drawn to orchids because of the large array of colors, sizes and variety.
   Ruth Dunn, of Corpus Christi, said she has been interested in orchids for several years and that she went to see the exhibit of orchids and to see how others grow the flowers.
   "I just wanted to see," she said, laughing. "I'm sure that they grow them much better than I do."
   But she still loves orchids.
   "They're just great," she said. "They don't even need soil, some of them, and they are so exotic."


Contact Sara Lee Fernandez at 886-3767 or fernandezs@caller.com

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