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Any good orchid stores/greenhouses in San Diego to visit?

10 years ago

Hi! We are going to San Diego area soon for vaca and being from NY I'd love to check out any recommended orchid hot spots! (Other than J&L I have very little resources nearby! Even my Trader Joes barely has any orchids!!!) Even just to browse & enjoy. My hubby is a good sport so I'm sure I can talk him into a few side trips!!!!! Thx!

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Comments (9)

terpguy
10 years ago
Andy's orchids is in Encinitas. One of the best in the business!
orchidnick
10 years ago
Andy's Orchids for species, Lico Orchids for Tollumnias, Sunset Valley Orchids for Catesetums, Cattleyas an Au Dendrobiums. If you've never been to Santa Barbara it's worth the trip in order to experience SB. SBOE and Cal Orchids while you are there. Best to make appointments for all except SBOE for whom it is not necessary.

That should fill your week, no time for anything else, bring lots of money. All will ship your orchids to NY and time the arrival suitable to your presence there. Bring even more money. Like a Greenhouse, after you decide how much you need, double it.

Nick
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orchidnick
10 years ago
Of the ones I mentioned SBOE is the only one suitable for 'Browse and Enjoy'. All the others are strictly business.

What are you looking for, here it is, what else? This is the MO for all of them except SBOE and none other than SBOE let you wander around and look. Cal Orchids also might let you browse.

Nick
bgian
Original Author
10 years ago
Wonderful! Thanks so much for the input! I do have a wish list, but I do like to just browse too when possible so thanks for letting me know the etiquette! Does anyone happen to know if Andy' s is open by appt only too?
orchidnick
10 years ago
Appointment only. It also helps to know exactly what you are looking for. SBOE and CalOrchids are better suited for looking around and kicking the tires. Santa Barbara is a beautiful spot and if you are up for the drive should be part of a SOCAL vacation anyway.

Nick
orchidnick
10 years ago
Please give us a follow up. Who did you see ad how was it?

Nick
bgian
Original Author
10 years ago
I haven't left yet! In about 2 wks! I'll let you know if I have any success!
tolumniamatt
10 years ago
Andy's Orchids and Sunset Valley Orchids are both good choices, I have never been to Lico's but they are very nice people. The San Diego County Orchid Society meets the first Tuesday of every month at Balboa Park - sdorchids.com This orchid society has one of the largest memberships in the US and is very much worth your time if you are there during that time.

A trip up to beautiful Santa Barbara is much better for a large orchid nursery experience but is a 4 hour drive one way. Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, Cal Orchid, Westerlay Orchids and Gallup & Stribling are all great destinations. The following is a website geared towards orchids in this area. I only recommend the growers I listed as the others are open by appointment and not worth your time.

http://www.californiaorchidtrail.com/orchidgrowers.htm

I lived in southern California for nearly 40 years until 2009 when I moved to New Hampshire. I even worked at Santa Barbara Orchid Estate for over a year. If you have any further questions I'd be happy to answer them.

Matt Swift
orchidnick
10 years ago
I'm going to visit Andy tomorrow and will describe what in my opinion works best with him. He has such a huge selection and is not really geared for walk ins so having a target approach works best.

I'm going there specifically to get radical Coelogynes. He lists about 10 on his page but has another 50 under his bench. These will be the target and since I can neither afford all of them or want all of them, the discussion will center on selecting certain ones. Having a budget helps, I go there with a certain amount and leave the credit card and check book in the car.

The flesh is weak!

By the way if you do choose to go to Santa Barbara, make sure to avoid LA rush hour traffic. If you hit the southern rim of the metropolis around 7:30AM, the 4 hour trip will turn into a 5 hour plus affair.

Nick

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