GCOA MONTHLY MEETINGS & PROGRAMS
Gulf Coast Orchid Alliance’s Monthly Programs offer an interesting blend of expert speakers and hands-on activities, all geared to helping our members and guests grow the best and most beautiful orchids possible! We attract some of the most prominent growers in Florida and the nation as speakers, who bring amazing plants for sale and demonstrate the latest trends in growing and hybridizing many different types of orchids. GCOA is becoming famous for our hands-on programs which include activities in propagating and growing orchids, techniques for potting and mounting, and tips and tricks that can be immediately put into practice in one’s own orchid collection. Each December, we hold an Annual Holiday Party, which includes a gift orchid for each member! In the summer, we have Bingo for Orchids! Meetings are open to everyone – very informal, very welcoming, and ALL orchid-related questions are welcomed! It’s a great time to share pictures of orchids, fellowship with other orchid lovers, and ask for information when encountering problems in our subtropical growing conditions. We have a great time at meetings – come join us and learn!
SEPTEMBER 21ST MEETING & PROGRAM
Orchid Auction
Naples Conference Center
1455 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL (click here for map)
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Don’t miss the once in a year opportunity to snap up a bargain on a new or exotic orchid to add to your collection. Beautiful specimens, babies of coveted award winners, crosses and rare plants will be offered. Unbelievable selection!
For more information, text (preferred) or call Elaine at 239-269-6389.
PAST PROGRAMS & MEETINGS
Click on any post below to learn more and see photos.
December Holiday Party
What fun we had at the Holiday Party! Delicious food (I heard a lot of “could I have your recipe?”), beautiful decorations, and great orchid fellowship! Thanks to Christine Miller for these GREAT pictures of the event! Here’s what she wrote on her Facebook post:...
Orchid Propagation and Unflasking
How are orchid seeds propagated? We learned all about it with a hands-on demonstration of the sterile-environment sowing of orchid seeds! Jim Longwell brought his Laminar Flow cabinet, a Sterile-Environment Hood, and demonstrated how to clean, open, and remove...
Orchid Bingo
Each summer, one of our monthly meetings is Orchid Bingo! In a fun and collegial atmosphere, we play Bingo for orchids! Our Bingo night is also a Potluck Picnic night – Bingo AND great food! The past two years have been SO much fun – join us this coming summer...
Happehatchee Orchid Outreach Program
Wendy Mazuk and Elaine Gates presented an “Orchids 101” and “How to Mount Orchids in the Landscape” program at the beautiful Happehatchee nature center in Estero. Participants got to learn all about growing different kinds of orchids and, in teams, mount orchids into...
January Orchid Sale
In alternate years, GCOA holds an Orchid Sale in January, with more than 1,000 plants from Hawaii and throughout Florida, as a fund-raiser and to give the public a chance to purchase beautiful, rare and unusual orchids![ngg src="galleries" ids="4"...