CLUBS
Food Bank. For this year’s Orchid Show, we are encouraging
attendees to bring a bag of non-perishable food items or to
make a cash donation to the Treasure Coast Food Bank. This
will enter them into an hourly orchid raffle.”
Funds for the society come from annual member dues of
$20 and their yearly American Orchid Society-sanctioned
orchid show at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens.
Members volunteer and maintain an outdoor “Orchid
Room” at the PSL Botanical Gardens. It is a 10-year project
that exhibits hundreds of orchids growing in the trees and on
the ground in pots.
“It is our way to increase knowledge and appreciation
of orchids in our community,” DeMarco said. “Some of the
orchids featured in the Orchid Room have been donated or
loaned out by members.”
John Erickson, a society member, became interested in
orchid growing upon his retirement in 2011. He attended an
orchid show and was blown away by the number of beautiful
orchids.
“After that show, I bought two orchids and placed them on
a stand in my front-door entrance,” Erickson said. “It only
took three days for them to turn brown and sunburnt. I knew
I needed help and so I found the PSL Orchid Society.”
As a member, Erickson has become heavily involved with
society classes, workshops and trips. He is now an invaluable
resource to the group on orchid growing and maintenance
and, along with Benford, helps lead the effort in upkeep of
the Orchid Room at the botanical gardens.
Mostly, members of this diverse group like to have fun and
enjoy each other’s company all while learning and teaching
one another about this popular houseplant. E
The Brassavola Nodosa
is native to Mexico and
Central America but grows
well in our subtropical
landscape. In the evening,
the flower emits a
gardenia-like scent and is
sometimes referred to as
“Lady of the Night” orchid.
Port St. Lucie Magazine 43
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