Born and raised in northern IL, currently residing in central IL... we did pick up one gardening zone moving south a bit. I'd give anything to live in central coastal Cali, but I'd never get my husband to agree to moving. He claims to like the winters, and does have a good reason... the cold kills off a lot of bad things, and keeps nature genetically strong. I'll buy that, but I still don't enjoy the bone-chilling cold! I get chilled in fall and don't thaw until spring! And the older I get, the more the cold bothers me physically... I'm old enough to dislike winter! The only way we'd ever move to warmer climes would be if our children moved their families there first... only then would my husband agree to a move. So, it looks like I'm stuck gardening in IL... where I must emulate a warm climate to grow orchids and other tropicals, dragging them out for summer and back in for winter... but I do get to enjoy lilacs, peonies, tulips and other bulbs and plants that are deciduous or require a chill in order to bloom. I guess it's not so bad... we have white Christmases, germ killing cold, and can enjoy plants that need the lower temps... and summer brings all the warmth and humidity that makes the garden bloom so beautifully... It may make orchid growing a challenge... but real gardeners aren't afraid of a challenge, and in fact, we welcome the chance to prove our prowess! What the hey, my Epi is still alive... I must be doing something right! :-)

I grew orchids many years in south Florida in a semi-open shadehouse, and never had to use fungicide. Supplemental fans provided all the air movement necessary (wiring and fans sheltered under plastic). I'm a firm believer in cultivating mycorrhizal fungus for my plants in the substrate/mount, and fungicide will of course destroy that. Doesn't matter for hybrids, but for many sensitive species, it does. You must use good quality plastic, or the sun will oxidize it in a matter of weeks! I use the 5.2-ounce clear PolyMax fabric from FarmTek, and am tremendously pleased with it. It's 11-mil, I think, and reinforced with fiberglas strands, and also has UV inhibitors. It's like iron, and staples won't pull through it in heavy winds. It's semi-transparent, and diffuses light well. A ten-foot wide section runs $1.76 per foot, with other sizes available. Before I discovered this product I used 6-mil construction dropcloths, and was forever repairing and replacing the stuff. The PolyMax is almost twice as expensive, but it will pay for itself in less than a year. Granted, my shadehouse in Vero Beach was somewhat protected by slash pines, but it survived the double-whammy in 2004 from Jeannie and Frances well (10 days apart). It was built the same way my present fully-enclosed greenhouse is built, with a simple 2x4 pressure-treated frame, with wood lattice in key areas to support the plastic. We aren't so much prone to hurricanes here north of Panama City (although still prone), but do get vicious thunderstorms with 50-60 mph winds. With my exhaust fan creating a vacuum inside the enclosure and pulling it tight against the frame, wind doesn't even ruffle the plastic. Even on an open shadehouse, just a few, well-placed staples through the plastic to the frame and purlins will provide all the strength you need and more. Bruce

I use to go to PCB every other weekend when I was young and knew it like the back of my hand. It has grown and changed so much in the last 25 years so I can't make a suggestion. You may want to contact www.seedsprout.com. They are about 25 miles north of PCB. Then about another 25 miles north of them is I-10. Follow U.S. 231 headed north of I-10 to Cottondale and there are a number of nurseries. The really nice folks at SeedSprout may even recommend some to you.

I agree with the previous recommendations for Busy Bee and Rock City Gardens. Another new nursery has just opened up between the 2 of them on US1 - Orchid Island Botanicals. We went to their grand opening a couple of weeks ago, and it is beautiful! If your trip is happening on the 1st weekend of the month, try to stop by Valkaria Tropical Gardens in South Brevard County. They're only open the 1st (and sometimes 2nd) weekend of every month from April - December. You can tour Dr. Brown's wonderfully landscaped gardens and also buy plants in his nursery! I'll attach a link to a map below. Our Indian River Co. Master Gardeners are having a private tour on May 19 - can't wait! Margie Here is a link that might be useful: Map - Valkaria Tropical Gardens