| The inspiration to form a club for orchid growers started with an article in the Detroit News in 1951. The first official meeting took place in January 1952. Meetings were set on the third Sunday of the month from September to June. At the time, dues were $3.00 per year with an initiation fee of $2.00.
MOS exhibit in the Palm Sunday Orchid Show in Laurel Park Place Livonia, MI |
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Our first annual Palm Sunday Show was held on April 11, 1954 at the Stanley Norton Greenhouse in Ypsilanti. Palm Sunday Shows were held there for more than 20 years until the size of the show necessitated a larger site. Shows were subsequently held at the Detroit Bank Building, Penobscot Building, Chrysler Imperial Showroom, Southfield Town Center and local malls. Laurel Park Place in Livonia has hosted the Palm Sunday Show since 1990.
The Michigan Orchid Society hosted its first Mid America Orchid Congress Conference/Show in 1968. The Mid America Orchid Congress is a regional affiliation of orchid societies. We have since hosted the conference in 1974, 1981, 1988, 1995 and 2000. To celebrate these events we published a book, "North American Terrestrial Orchids", and commissioned two original watercolor paintings for use in our posters. In 1984, the Michigan Orchid Society participated in the World Orchid Conference in Miami, Florida. Hundreds of pounds of sandstone for a waterfall for our display was shipped by truck and plants provided by our members were flown to Miami.
AOS judges carefully inspect a plant in an orchid judging event |
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Members have volunteered at the orchid greenhouses at the Belle Isle Conservatory since 1993. These greenhouses are home to approximately 5000 orchids, some of which were donated by Michigan Orchid Society members. In addition to dividing and repotting orchids, some of the more "handy" members replace greenhouse glass and repair and install greenhouse equipment. The society also donated bags of potting mix at the beginning of this project.
The Michigan Orchid Society and its members have accomplished much over the years. Numerous members have completed training at the Great Lakes Judging Center to serve as American Orchid Society judges. One of our members, Ray McCollough (now deceased), served terms as president for the Michigan Orchid Society in 1956 and the American Orchid Society in 1976. The society has built a large library of books, periodicals and videotapes related to orchids and their culture for the membership to use. The monthly meetings host speakers who are orchid growers, taxonomists and authors from all over the world. The success of our members as hobby orchid growers is demonstrated every month by the plants they bring in for the orchid plant table.
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