OOS Meeting—February 2026
2026-02-15 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | KS
The Business Meeting will take place at 1:00–1:50pm; Program Presentation at 2–3pm; and Show Table, Auction, and Raffle at 3–3:30pm.

Program

The American Orchid Society’s Mary Gerritsen will share her experiences on the orchids of Madagascar.

BiographyMary has been interested in plants for most of her adult life, and has been growing orchids on and off for the last 40 years, despite several cross country moves as part of her “other life” as a biomedical scientist. Her passion for orchids was rekindled when she moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1997 and attended an orchid show. Returning home with a few plants, she decided to join a local orchid society to learn more about taking care of them, and from these beginnings, her current passion grew exponentially! Now Mary truly has put her roots down, and has orchids in two greenhouses, five lath houses, her front porch, sun room, and anywhere else she can put them. Her collection of about two thousand plants, mostly species, is rich in masdevallias and other miniature orchids of many different genera. Mary has traveled extensively to see orchids in situ, including many countries in Central and South America, Southeast Asia, as well as Australia, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Madagascar, Europe & Mediterranean islands, the USA and Canada. She has co-authored six botanical books with co-author and photographer Ron Parsons “Masdevallias, Gems of the Orchid World”, “Calochortus, Mariposa Lilies and their Relatives”, “A Compendium of Miniature Orchid Species” (a two book set), “A Bay Area Guide to Orchids and their Culture” “The American Orchid Society Guide to Orchids and their Culture”, and the recently released “The Compendium of Miniature Orchid Species, 2nd edition” (a four book set). Mary has served as president and vice president for both the Peninsula and San Francisco Orchid Societies, and is currently president and chief executive officer of the Orchid Conservation Alliance and a director of the Orchid Digest.

GPJC February Judging
2026-02-21 10:00 - 15:00 | Southwestern College, Beech Science Center, 100 N College Street, Winfield, KS, 67156, United States
All orchid enthusiasts are encouraged to submit orchids for judging by taking them to the GPJC the morning before judging begins or by making arrangements with one of OOS’s AOS judges to take the orchids to judging. Members should download and complete the “Judging Entry Form” for each orchid submitted. Orchid plants and cut flowers submitted at a monthly GPJC judging event or AOS-sanctioned show are candidates for an award.

OOS Meeting—March 2026
2026-03-15 13:00 - 16:00 | KS
The Business Meeting will take place at 1:00–1:50pm; Program Presentation at 2–3pm; and Show Table, Auction, and Raffle at 3–3:30pm.

Program

Roughly 10 percent of the world’s plant species are orchids. This huge family has long fascinated scientists and been prized by collectors for its strange and often showy flowers. However, orchids are often among the first casualties of environmental degradation. Of North America’s approximately 230 native orchid species, 1 in 4 are globally threatened and nearly half are threatened at the state or federal level. Orchids’ dependence on specific mycorrhizal fungi and pollinators makes their conservation and restoration especially challenging, but harnessing mycorrhizal fungi can also boost conservation success. The North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC) is a network of collaborating organizations that are working to safeguard our native orchids by conducting research on orchid-fungus relationships, propagation techniques, and pollinators and applying it to in situ and ex situ orchid conservation. In this talk, Melissa McCormick will talk about how NAOCC research and collections are advancing native orchid conservation.

Bio:

Melissa McCormick is a Senior Ecologist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and is the Director of the North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC). She earned her B.S. degree Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas, 1992) and Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior from Michigan State University (1999). Melissa joined SERC in 1999, first as a postdoctoral researcher, then a research scientist, and now as a senior ecologist. Her main research focus is on associations between plants and mycorrhizal fungi, with a strong focus on orchids. In 2011, with Dennis Whigham, she co-founded NAOCC at the Smithsonian. The goal of NAOCC is to safeguard the native orchids of the US and Canada, through propagation, preservation, and education. She has authored over 60 peer reviewed scientific publications about orchids, their mycorrhizal fungi, their pollinators, and other drivers of plant distribution.

Talk description:

24th World Orchid Conference—Germany 2026
2026-03-26 08:00 - 2026-03-29 17:00 | Messe Dresden, Messering 6, Dresden, 01067, Germany
The World Orchid Conference 2026 (WOC 2026), hosted by the German Orchid Society, is taking place in Dresden, Germany, from March 26 to March 29, 2026.

Following the success of WOC 2024, WOC 2026 promises a fresh and distinctive experience—celebrating orchids in a way that reflects Germany’s rich horticultural traditions. It will be an extraordinary gathering of orchid enthusiasts, researchers, and experts from around the world. With 60+ talks by international specialists across three parallel streams, you’ll gain deep insights into orchid conservation, cultivation, and science.

Registration Now Open!Secure your spot today! The full registration package is available for 300€, with all details on inclusions found at:👉 www.woc-2026.com/registration

Exclusive Orchid Travel ExperienceIn collaboration with a specialized travel agent, WOC 2026 offers post-conference orchid trips across Europe, giving you the opportunity to explore breathtaking orchid habitats beyond the event. More information will follow soon!

Join us for WOC 2026 and be part of this exceptional orchid experience in Dresden. We can’t wait to welcome you!

Warm regards,WOC 2026 TeamGerman Orchid Society

AOS Spring Conference
2026-04-11 08:00 - 17:00 | Hilton Garden Inn Apopka City Center, 580 East Main Street, Apopka, FL, 32703, United States
The 2026 AOS Spring Conference is coming up! Join us in Apopka, Florida April 8th -11th. The Conference will be held in conjunction with the Apopka Spring International Orchid Festival which is presented by Krull-Smith. You will have the opportunity not only to participate in conference activities but also take in other area offerings: horticultural, nature, and of course the nearby world-class attractions in Orlando, FL.

In addition to traditional events like AOS Judging, the Meeting of the Members, Award presentations, and AOS elections, we will feature on Friday evening a welcome social prior to the silent and live auctions. Come on out and mingle with fellow orchid enthusiasts!

There will be 2 days of expert orchid speakers and hands-on orchid workshops.Throughout the weekend: Friday – Sunday, the orchid festival will be open with plants, supplies and vendors from around the world.

A beautiful “Orchid Paradise” banquet is planned for Saturday evening, complete with a gourmet dinner and entertainment. Don’t miss it! Thanks to a generous benefactor, this gala event is included with your registration.

More Information

GPJC April Judging
2026-04-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Southwestern College, Beech Science Center, 100 N College Street, Winfield, KS, 67156, United States

OOS Meeting—April 2026
2026-04-19 13:00 - 16:00 | Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73112, United States
The Business Meeting will take place at 1:00–1:50pm; Program Presentation at 2–3pm; and Show Table, Auction, and Raffle at 3–3:30pm.

Program

The Society’s own Jana Butcher will prepare the Membership for our annual flower show in May, including interpreting the show schedule.

OOS's Annual Orchid Show & Sale
2026-05-02 10:00 - 2026-05-03 16:00 | Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73112, United States
See hundreds of orchids on show and for sale at Oklahoma Orchid Society’s annual Show & Sale, the Society’s AOS-sanctioned event of the year. This two-day “Bench and Full Exhibit” show will be held from 10am to 4pm at Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK. Admission and parking are free, and the event is open to the public.

Orchid plants for ribbon judging must be registered on the Friday preceding the Show & Sale from 10:00 am–5:00 pm in the Gardens’ Exhibition Hall. Registration deadline is 5:00 pm. Ribbon judging at the Show will begin at 8:00 am Saturday morning in the Gardens’ Exhibition Hall, immediately followed by AOS judging.

Vendors will have hundreds of beautiful orchids from around the world for sale, and OOS will have growing supplies for sale. Be sure to stop at the Welcome Booth to speak with OOS members about growing and re-blooming orchids, ask questions, purchase raffle tickets, engage your children in an orchid scavenger hunt, and learn how to become a member of the Society. Come, saturate your senses with orchids!

List of Vendors

MAB’s Orchid Nursery, LLC

Oakheart Orchids

Sandstone Orchids & Nursery, LLC

Timbucktoo Orchids

Tulsa Orchid Society Show & Sale
2026-05-16 10:00 - 2026-05-17 17:00 | The Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S Peoria Ave, Tulsa, OK, 74114, United States
Tulsa Orchid Society’s and SWROGA’s Spring Orchid Show & Sale. This year’s theme is “Orchid Kicks on Route 66.”

GPJC June Judging
2026-06-20 10:00 - 15:00 | Southwestern College, Beech Science Center, 100 N College Street, Winfield, KS, 67156, United States

GPJC July Judging
2026-07-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Southwestern College, Beech Science Center, 100 N College Street, Winfield, KS, 67156, United States

GPJC August Judging
2026-08-15 10:00 - 15:00 | Southwestern College, Beech Science Center, 100 N College Street, Winfield, KS, 67156, United States

GPJC September Judging
2026-09-19 10:00 - 15:00 | Southwestern College, Beech Science Center, 100 N College Street, Winfield, KS, 67156, United States

GPJC November Judging
2026-11-21 10:00 - 15:00 | Southwestern College, Beech Science Center, 100 N College Street, Winfield, KS, 67156, United States

GPJC December Judging
2026-12-19 10:00 - 15:00 | Southwestern College, Beech Science Center, 100 N College Street, Winfield, KS, 67156, United States
