Phalaenopsis Tying Shin Galaxy ‘9080’
CVOS began as a collaboration of Lowe’s garden center shoppers that chared an interest in orchids. Lester Poole, the District Network Trainer for Lowe’s home district, and Dr. Mark Sigmon began discussing the possibility of starting an orchids society. Shortly Dave Erikson became part of the initial group in ’97. Dave is now co-owner, with wife Phyllis, of Ironwood Orchid Estates.
We began collecting names and contact information of interested area orchid growers and quickly had a list of over 30 interested individuals. Lowe’s agreed to allow the group to use the stores training room for our meetings. There were 27 attendees at the first meeting.Â
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At this time Lowe’s initiated an apprentice in Horticulture possition, hiring Hort students to work in our garden center to provide hands on training in Garden Center operations. Our group met for four months at Lowe’s and an opportunity arose to hold our meetings at SVCC’s Life Sciences Building across the street at Catawba Valley Community College.
After many years, Covid flared through the country, making meetings unsafe. The members decided for safeties sake to put a hiatus on in-person meetings. When we felt it safe to begin in person meetings, our meetings were relocated to another section of campus since CVCC was winding down their successful Hort program due to new construction.
Member, Phillip Setzer, offered to investigate if we could use the Catawba County Extension office facilities to meet in. With a favorable confirmation from the Extension Director, and an approving vote, we then relocated our meeting location to our current Extension Office facilities.
CVOS will be 30 years old in March 2027 and our group is again growing with enthused new members. We we look forward to the excitement of the next couple years till we can celebrate our 30th anniversay.
Location, location, location
- Add capacity and excellent, full-throated meeting faciities at Catawba Counties Agricultural Extension Center and the opportunites to educate thrive. Add the support and synergy of the Horticulural community and the possibilities become stellar.
- The CVOS meets the third Tuesday of each month, excluding our August BBQ and December Christmas Party. Assembley and setup begins around 6:30PM . Meetings beginat 7:00PM and usually last till 9 or 10PM.
- We follow the Catawba Valley Community College weather schedule . . . if the college closes classes due to inclement weather, we do not meet that day and a MailChimp notice will be sent out to members.