ORCHID EVENTS
ANNUAL FALL HORTICULTURAL EXPO
The Gainesville Orchid Society is partnering with the Gainesville Garden Club to produce an "Orchid Showcase" at their annual Fall Horticultural Expo. The event will feature the Society's blooming orchid display and an educational exhibit with hands-on activities related to orchid biology and cultivation. Our orchid vendor partners will also attend and offer a diverse selection of orchids and related supplies for sale.
4th Annual Fall Horticultural EXPO
https://www.ggcfl.org/fallexpo
Alachua County Ag & Equestrian Center in Newberry, FL 32699
Saturday, October 17, 2026
9 AM to 4 PM
The event is open to the public and free to attend.
Includes: Fall Plant Market, Bugs, Birds & More, UF/IFAS Fang Fest, KIDS ZONE, Demonstrations, food trucks, live music, free entry & parking.GOS
ANNUAL SHOW
The Gainesville Orchid Society historically hosted an annual show in October, formerly at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. With judging by the American Orchid Society, regional orchid societies and vendors presented beautifully staged displays and vendor partners sold orchids, orchid-growing supplies, and other kinds of plants. Visitors also learned about growing orchids and attended short educational seminars during our two-day event.
Note: The Gainesville Orchid Society Annual Show and Plant Sale event is suspended until further notice. However, we are working to produce this event at a new venue and will provide updates here soon.
The Gainesville Orchid Society is partnering with the Gainesville Garden Club to produce an "Orchid Showcase" at their annual Fall Horticultural Expo. The event will feature the Society's blooming orchid display and an educational exhibit with hands-on activities related to orchid biology and cultivation. Our orchid vendor partners will also attend and offer a diverse selection of orchids and related supplies for sale.
4th Annual Fall Horticultural EXPO
https://www.ggcfl.org/fallexpo
Alachua County Ag & Equestrian Center in Newberry, FL 32699
Saturday, October 17, 2026
9 AM to 4 PM
The event is open to the public and free to attend.
Includes: Fall Plant Market, Bugs, Birds & More, UF/IFAS Fang Fest, KIDS ZONE, Demonstrations, food trucks, live music, free entry & parking.GOS
ANNUAL SHOW
The Gainesville Orchid Society historically hosted an annual show in October, formerly at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. With judging by the American Orchid Society, regional orchid societies and vendors presented beautifully staged displays and vendor partners sold orchids, orchid-growing supplies, and other kinds of plants. Visitors also learned about growing orchids and attended short educational seminars during our two-day event.
Note: The Gainesville Orchid Society Annual Show and Plant Sale event is suspended until further notice. However, we are working to produce this event at a new venue and will provide updates here soon.
GREENHOUSE TOURS
Scheduled throughout the year, individual members may host an “open house” of their growing areas, which may be a greenhouse, screened porch, a room with grow light tables, pool enclosure or a backyard with a shade house. The methods of growing orchids in our area are as diverse as our members. In addition, a spring “pot-in” is held at a member’s greenhouse for new members who receive an orchid division and hands-on instruction on orchid potting. Orchid nurseries may also hold open houses along with an orchid sale. All of these events are excellent ways for members to share their ideas and methods for growing orchids in our area.
Scheduled throughout the year, individual members may host an “open house” of their growing areas, which may be a greenhouse, screened porch, a room with grow light tables, pool enclosure or a backyard with a shade house. The methods of growing orchids in our area are as diverse as our members. In addition, a spring “pot-in” is held at a member’s greenhouse for new members who receive an orchid division and hands-on instruction on orchid potting. Orchid nurseries may also hold open houses along with an orchid sale. All of these events are excellent ways for members to share their ideas and methods for growing orchids in our area.
AWAY SHOWS
An away show is any show put on by a neighboring orchid society where GOS puts up an orchid display. Orchid shows present members an opportunity to enter their best blooming orchids for judging. Give it a try...you might win a blue ribbon! Come along and help. It's lots of fun and a great way to get to know other Society members. And... you get to visit the vendors there selling orchids and supplies.
Coordinated by an experienced GOS member, a crew of volunteers pack up plants and display materials, drive them to the show venue, set up the display, register the plants and then enjoy an added bonus--an afternoon of seeing the show and shopping for orchids and supplies before heading home to Gainesville. Another crew of volunteers heads over on Sunday to take down the display and transport plants and materials back to a member’s home for pick up. Most away orchid shows are within easy driving distance.
Without participation by visiting orchid societies, our annual show displays would not be nearly so beautiful nor our show so much fun. Our members reciprocate by participating in out-of-town shows hosted by our affiliate societies. Here is this year's schedule of away shows:
ANUAL SPRING AUCTION
Auction Rules
• Orchid sellers must be members of the GOS and should come to the meeting as early as possible (not later than 6:30 pm) to register, tag, and help organize their plants.
• Please supply a short, legible note about the plant you are selling. Tell us how it’s pronounced and supply an interesting fact that will entice buyers. If a plant looks unhealthy or has pests, the auction committee will set it aside.
• Members may submit up to seven plants. ORCHID PLANTS ONLY. Plants in bloom, or with a picture of the bloom, will be auctioned first. Others will be auctioned as time allows.
• Plants are selected for auction in sequential vendor-letter order, for fairness.
• The Gainesville Orchid Society receives one third of the proceeds of auctioned plants.
• Pay for plants you buy with cash or check.
• The Treasurer will mail checks to the sellers after the auction.
• Members may choose to generously donate all proceeds from the sale of any or all their plants to GOS.
There will be no silent auction. The auction will begin promptly at 7:15.
An away show is any show put on by a neighboring orchid society where GOS puts up an orchid display. Orchid shows present members an opportunity to enter their best blooming orchids for judging. Give it a try...you might win a blue ribbon! Come along and help. It's lots of fun and a great way to get to know other Society members. And... you get to visit the vendors there selling orchids and supplies.
Coordinated by an experienced GOS member, a crew of volunteers pack up plants and display materials, drive them to the show venue, set up the display, register the plants and then enjoy an added bonus--an afternoon of seeing the show and shopping for orchids and supplies before heading home to Gainesville. Another crew of volunteers heads over on Sunday to take down the display and transport plants and materials back to a member’s home for pick up. Most away orchid shows are within easy driving distance.
Without participation by visiting orchid societies, our annual show displays would not be nearly so beautiful nor our show so much fun. Our members reciprocate by participating in out-of-town shows hosted by our affiliate societies. Here is this year's schedule of away shows:
ANUAL SPRING AUCTION
Auction Rules
• Orchid sellers must be members of the GOS and should come to the meeting as early as possible (not later than 6:30 pm) to register, tag, and help organize their plants.
• Please supply a short, legible note about the plant you are selling. Tell us how it’s pronounced and supply an interesting fact that will entice buyers. If a plant looks unhealthy or has pests, the auction committee will set it aside.
• Members may submit up to seven plants. ORCHID PLANTS ONLY. Plants in bloom, or with a picture of the bloom, will be auctioned first. Others will be auctioned as time allows.
• Plants are selected for auction in sequential vendor-letter order, for fairness.
• The Gainesville Orchid Society receives one third of the proceeds of auctioned plants.
• Pay for plants you buy with cash or check.
• The Treasurer will mail checks to the sellers after the auction.
• Members may choose to generously donate all proceeds from the sale of any or all their plants to GOS.
There will be no silent auction. The auction will begin promptly at 7:15.
© 2025 Gainesville Orchid Society