Waaaa - so very too bad you can't go. In Minnesota, we have only 1 show a year w/ a teenie number of vendors. Times like these, it'd be heaven to live on the left or right coasts. WC8

I'll be there on Saturday. Those of you going on Friday be sure to leave me a few $7.50 specials! Here are a few photos that I took at the SBOE a couple weeks ago... Here is a link that might be useful: Orchid Growers in Southern California

I need to defend SBOE. Most of the Catt crosses are either young seedlings who should bloom in 3 years or 2 bbulbs of a mature plant which also should bloom in 3 years. If you get there first thing in the morning, any day, as they restock at night, and carefully look at each plant in a given group, you will usually find a couple that are 1 year ahead of the pack, 2 bbulbs plus a new growth. That plant will bloom in 2 years. I usually try to get there at 8 AM Friday morning, this year I could not get there until Saturday AM but found nice plants never the less. Some of the Pleuros and the plants in that group often are already in bloom and will give a full head of flowers in a year. Depends on your desire for quick results. I prefer 20 of these to 6 or 7 larger plants. Since I have been doing this for a number of years, as I mount or pot this year's purchases, flowers are popping up on plants I got there 3 years ago and had forgotten about until they surprise you with a bloom. Do that twice a year for a number of years and the surprises keep on popping up. For 'REAL' orchid shopping I would not go there during a show. On any weekday during the year, the personal attention at SBOE and Cal Orchids right across the street is superb. No mass $7.50 table but expert advice and a great selection of obviously more expensive plants. I usually shop for a group, tell James at Cal Orchids "Let's look at Pescatore today" or Wayne at SBOE "Good day for Lycaste" and you get a selection of their best. Large enough purchases will get you the usual discount. The $7.50 table is like an exiting swap meet, no comparison to 'real orchid shopping' but I would not miss it. Nick

It really is an open house. But there are plenty of tables set out with sale plants on them. The nursery is pretty large and is a good place to tour. Plus, Cal Orchids is right across the street so when you're done with SBOE go visit them (they are closed Sunday though).