Meetings
Meetings take place at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on the Fourth Monday of every month
(except July, August & December).
December is our Holiday Party and date varies & is for members and their guests only.
Meetings generally take place in classroom Corbin A at Fairchild Garden unless otherwise noted. Refreshments and Raffle table are usually set up by 7:15pm and speakers begin presentations at 7:30pm.
During each meeting, there is a speaker on a pre-announced topic related to growing plants. Speakers are often well-known members of the exotic plant community including growers, horticulturalists, botanists, and collectors. Members are able to sell plants during the meeting at the designated Members’ sales tables. Additionally, members may bring in snacks, drinks, and plants for the Raffle table.
Meetings are free to attend.
Next meeting: October 28, 2024
The next meeting is the Annual Auction. Members are encouraged to bring guests for our main fundraising event of the year.
We will be meeting in the Garden House at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
Preview will start at 7:00pm.
Auction will begin promptly at 7:30pm.
Valerie Holt is chairperson and needs volunteers to work the event.
Contact her at 305-893-8729 or bobandval@att.net to volunteer.
Remember this event is our main fund raising for the year.
Members are welcome to bring refreshments or plants to auction. Please bring these before 7pm.
Previous meeting: ‘How to Create, Engage, and Gain Active & New Plant Enthusiasts Despite Rumors that “The Boom” is Over’
Meet Ashley and Hunter
Ashley Willingham is an avid Plant Enthusiast, social media content creator, and she has a true passion for sharing knowledge with others. She taught herself tissue culture through extensive research and studies. In June of 2022, she was able to release over 500 Monstera Thai Constellation and 1300 Philodendron Joepii. She has now built an entire community around teaching people about tissue culture and horticultural education. This led her to continue to educate anyone who is willing to listen on any and all topics related to plants. In the future Ashley hopes to work with critically endangered species, to help ensure that generations to come can share the love that she has with plants.
Hunter began his plant journey by looking for a therapeutic outlet to alleviate stress from his demanding job as a cardiac critical care nurse. He entered the online plant community to share the hard-to-find plant knowledge he couldn't easily find. He has become a beloved figure in the TikTok plant community. As of lately he turned his passion into profit by selling hundreds of plants online each month through platforms like Palmstreet. His influence continues to grow, and it’s said that he could sell a golden pothos to even the most seasoned plant collector. With a deep love for anthuriums, Hunter has taken his passion further by starting his own anthurium breeding program. He hopes to continue to bring unique and rare varieties to those who might not have had the opportunity to grow such plants otherwise. “
September 23, 2024
Past meetings
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Community Night
June 23, 2024
Members share stories about unique and fascinating plants they've collected.
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Speaker: Chad Husby
April 22, 2024
Topic: “Botanical Explorations in Colombia”
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Speaker: Philip Iloo of Stelmar Gardens
March 25 2024
Topic: "Pyrrosia and their mutations"