Tuyet Orchids display area

Photos by Danchi Nguyen

What:
11^th Annual Newport Harbor Orchid
Expo 2012 Show and Sale

This year’s
theme: “Romancing The Orchid”

Where: 1025
Westminster Mall
Westminster, Calif.
(714) 898-2558

When: Through Sunday, Feb. 2012, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free.

Stacie, a representative of Nha
Trang Flower,s explains different varieties of orchids to a customer.

“Orchids are very easy to take care
of. Just remember to water each week,” said Nam, the owner of Nha Trang
Flowers.

Participating Vendors:
ANDY’S ORCHIDS
BEAUTI… FLORIST
CAL ORCHID
CASA DE LAS ORQUIDEAS
DESERT TO JUNGLE
FOREVER BLOOM
HATFIELD ORCHIDS
LICO ORCHIDS
MR FERTILIZER
NHA TRANG FLOWERS
NORITO and PETER LIN
ORCHIDS OF LOS OSOS
SANTA BARBARA ORCHID ESTATE
SUNSET VALLEY ORCHIDS
TAYAMA
THE ORCHID PLACE
THO’S ORCHIDS
TUYET’S ORCHIDS

First-place
winners at the exhibit. According to Bui Manh Ha, one of the event’s organizers, the main features judges look for are size, shape, color, the number of
flowers per stem as well as the substance and texture of the flower.

Society Exhibit: SOUTH COAST ORCHID SOCIETY
SO. CAL ORCHID SPECIES SOCIETY
SAN DIEGO COUNTY ORCHID SOCIETY
SOUTH BAY ORCHID SOCIETY
VIETNAMESE ORCHID SOCIETY
NEWPORT HARBOR ORCHID SOCIETY

Vendors at this year’s Newport Harbor Orchid Expo

About Newport Harbor
Orchid Society (from its website): Our primary mission
is to foster the culture, cultivation, and conservation of orchids and to
educate the members and the public about orchids. We combine our educational
goals with a number of special activities and social events throughout the
year, including an annual greenhouse and garden tour of members’ growing areas,
visits to orchid nurseries located in Southern California, a spring orchid show
and sale, an annual banquet, and finally, a holiday potluck. Founded in 1979,
the NHOS is a large and very active society with over 250 participating members
who reside in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego counties. We meet
on the third Tuesday of each month at the Neighborhood Community Center in
Costa Mesa, 1845 Park Ave. The meetings begin with a culture class from
7-7:45 p.m. on a different topic related to orchids, followed by the general
meeting, at 7:45 p.m. that features a speaker, plant display, refreshments, a
silent auction, and plant raffle. Website: www.nhos.org

Best in Show award
winner from the Vietnamese Orchid Society in the category of Cymbidium Orchids.

About Vietnamese
Orchid Society (from its website): Our aim was to help
people understand orchids, especially those species that thrive in the
wilderness of Viet Nam. Since we started, we have had more than 10 million
viewers from all over the world. Vietnamese Orchid Society is in its ninth year. Its website is www.hoalanvietnam.org and its founder is Bui Xuan Dang.

Tips on taking care of orchids:

1. Light – Orchids need bright
light, but no direct sun.

2. Water
– Water orchids thoroughly once a week, more when it’s warmer,
less when it’s cooler. When watering orchids, try not to wet the leaves.

3. Fertilizer – Fertilize orchids
when they are growing.

4. Air movement – Gentle
air circulation is needed for orchids.

5. Humidity – Orchids like humidity; most orchids do not like very dry environments.

6. Temperatures – Daytime temperature has to be between 65°- 75°F /18°- 24°C with a nighttime
temperature
drop of a few degrees.