Orchids in Paradise show grows knowledge of the flowers

Miriam White began growing orchids about two years ago, after she came to Sarasota from Maryland. 

“I love orchids,” she said. “I've been growing more and more ever since I got my first one. The weather here makes it so easy to start growing things.”

Nonetheless, she's always eager to learn more at events like the 65th annual Orchids in Paradise show, held Jan. 7-8 at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium by the Sarasota Orchid Society.

“Every time I come to places like this, I always ask for advice,” she said.

Vendors at the event came from across the state, with some including Plantio La Orquidea from Sarasota, Florida Orchid House from Myakka City, Art Stone Orchids & Statuary from St. Pete and driftwood artist William Tippit from Apopka, Florida, while the orchid societies of Venice and Englewood also participated.

The show serves as a fundraiser for the Sarasota Orchid Society, which provides scholarships for high school and undergraduate students in subjects like botany and horticulture. The event’s chair, Larry Desiano, said the show is also about educating the public. 

“It used to be we had connoisseurs,” he said. “Now, we have a lot of people that don't really know a lot, and they just want to be able to grow (orchids), and so we focus on the beginners, helping them understand culture, what's unique about orchids, and that they're not hard to grow, they're just a little bit different.”