South Coast Orchid Society

The South Coast Orchid Society will present a program by Douglas Overstreet, a wellknown orchid guru and judge, on “My Ten Favorite Cattleyas.” The program will be held at Whaley Park Community Center, 5260 E. Atherton St., Long Beach, from 7-9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24. Overstreet has been growing orchids in Southern California for decades; first as a hobby, and then as a career. He is currently the orchid specialist in charge of the Thornton Conservatory and the Ernest Hetherington Memorial Cattleya Collection. Overstreet’s knowledge of orchids is truly encyclopedic— he can pick up almost any orchid plant and immediately explain its merits and how best to care for it. He hasn’t revealed the list of his favorite cattleyas, but with well over a hundred species and many thousands of hybrids to choose from, there are guaranteed to be some surprises, along with the best possible advice for successful growing. Orchids grown by the Orchid Society’s members and guests will also be on display.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, email

southcoastorchidsociety@gmail. com. —John McCoy