Savannah Mall's Free Family Events

Orchids lovers from near and far will descend upon the Savannah Mall Center Court April 24-26 for the Deep South Orchid Society's 28th Annual Show. This year's theme is A Shower of Orchids. The event will feature competitions in 128 different classifications as well as lavish orchid displays and commercial vendors. According to Sandra T. Hardy, 2010 Show Chair, "There is something for everyone at the show. Competitions for the passionate orchid enthusiast to displays and vendors for the more casual attendee." Hardy continues, "It would be a wonderful place to shop for Mother's Day. All our vendors will be able to show you how to keep your orchids blooming year after year." This year the Society expects over 200 entries to the show competition. The show will also have an Orchid Doctor on call Saturday and Sunday to offer free diagnoses and treatment for problem plants or those that have stopped blooming. The Society was founded 35 years ago by six local orchid lovers. Their primary focus is on education of members, with a little fun thrown in. "Orchids can be very addictive," said Gail Matthews, one of the group's original founders. Matthews is the owner of LiveOak Orchids, located at the Mall. She also keeps six greenhouses at her home filled with the plants. Orchids have over 35,000 known species that grow in the wild, plus hundreds of thousands of known hybrids, so there is always something to learn. "Right now we are learning to clone orchids," said Matthews. With space donated to the group from the Mall, some of the members have been learning to create an exact replica of an existing orchid using stem propagation. This process requires sterile gloves, masks and working in a temperature-controlled environment known as a clean station. Currently the clones are potted in sterilized test tubes until they grow leaves. "If everything goes well we will end up with an exact clone of the plant we began with," continues Matthews. "Our success rate is currently around 60%, but we expect that to get higher as we learn more." An additional benefit of the Mall space is the new library the group will be opening to Society members for the first time at the show. April 7, 2010 2010 A Shower of Orchids Show Fact Sheet *Show hours are Friday 1 to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 am to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. *Orchid Doctors will be "On Call" Saturday from 10 am to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. *Entries into the competition will be accepted for judging Thursday April 22 from 9 am to 6 pm. Set-up time will begin at 8 a.m. Judging will begin at 9 am Friday, April 23. There is no charge to enter the competition. *Show regulations, competition classifications and rules maybe obtained from Sandra Hardy at 912-572-3355 or sthardy@comcast.net. *Show details and more information can be obtained at www.deepsouthorchid.org Deep South Orchid Society, Inc is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting interest in orchids and orchid cultivation. The society is an affiliate of the American Orchid Society in Delray Beach, FL. Meetings are help the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Community Room at the Savannah Mall. Visit www.deepsouthorchid.org for more details