Connect With TOC • Summer Field Trip Recap, Brazilian Orchids in August, & Fall Expo
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
July Field Trip Was Full Of Plants & Perspiration
We hope everyone has been watering their plants as we endure the dog days of Florida summer. TOC has been planning the months to come, but took some time out in July for a field trip. A small group loaded into the van for a run up to Apopka, and got a little more than they bargained for, bonding over plants and perspiration!
Not long after getting underway, the van's air conditioning quit. In July. In Florida. They were troopers and rolled with it, windows down.
Our first stop was Orchids in Bloom, where Pam Waters and her team went well beyond hospitality. They welcomed our club with a beautiful tablescape set for lunch, a genuinely lovely touch that had everyone slowing down and enjoying the visit. Thank you, Pam. It did not go unnoticed.
From there, we headed to Ecuagenera in Apopka, where they opened their doors to our crew, and everyone came home loaded down with great plants.
For the van ride home, the cardboard from everyone's purchases had been broken down into a fleet of makeshift fans, and the whole van was waving goodbye. Nothing bonds a group quite like a broken van AC.
We're expecting to see a lot of those plants showing up on the bloom table in the coming months, and we wouldn't be at all surprised if a few of them end up in front of AOS judges before long.
Next Up: Tuesday, August 25
🧍 Francisco Miranda • Miranda Orchids
🌸 Genus Laelia Brazilian Orchids
📍 Northdale Park (Directions)
⌛Doors open: 9:30 AM • Meeting begins: 10:00 AM
Francisco Miranda of Miranda Orchids joins us for a program on the genus Laelia from Brazil. Join us for a morning of connection and camaraderie
Alongside the program, August is a regular meeting with the full lineup:
Monthly bloom table — bring your bloomers to show
Giveaway drawing
Silent auction
Darwin's Orchid Depot
Potluck lunch — please bring a dish or dessert to share
Guests and visitors are always welcome, so bring a friend. And if you've been meaning to make it official, you can join TOC and pay your dues online here.
2026 Orchid Expo (Only 2 Months Away)
Saturday & Sunday, October 3rd & 4th
Our signature fall event is coming up faster than it seems. Mark your calendars for the Tampa Orchid Club and a weekend of blooms and enjoyment. There will be orchids and orchid resources galore, and orchids judged by the American Orchid Society will be on display.
📍Northdale Park
15510 Hooting Owls Place, Tampa, FL
📅 Saturday 10/3 ⌛ 10 AM – 4 PM | Sunday 10/4 10 AM – 3 PM |
🎫 $8 · Admission
🚗 Free parking
We still need help. Volunteers are needed for setup, working the Expo, and cleanup, and show trophy sponsorships are available for $30.
⭐ Cheryl Crilly is coordinating; reach her at cents4me@aol.com or 813.244.7564.
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