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The Tamiami International Orchid Festival, a major orchid event now in its sixth year, is coming to the Sunshine Pavilion of Tamiami Fair Expo Center (10900 Coral Way) on January 29th and 30th, 2011. The Festival has become in some aspects the largest annual orchid event of the season and hence is billed as “South Florida’s Winter Orchid Extravaganza.”

Truly national and international in scope, the Tamiami International Festival brings together fifty growers from the US and around the world. Orchidists from Malaya, and Taiwan, will join growers from Brazil, Venezuela, Equador, and Peru as well as local and national growers. Some of these leading orchid nurseries will be offering the public new varieties of orchid species and hybrids not previously available here.

The Tamiami Festival is a community based event with the sponsorship of the not for profit Greater Miami Orchid Festivals, and with participation by Orchid Society of Coral Gables, the South Dade Amateur Orchid Society, the American Orchid Society’s Florida Carribean Judging Center, the Coalition on Orchid Species and Orchid Mania (the children’s AIDS charity), all of whom will be contributing to the staffing of the event and sharing in its success. An overwhelming majority of local commercial orchid growers will also be exhibiting and vending. The event is intended to bring the entire orchid community of South Florida together.

A large beautifully landscaped central display will feature orchids in natural settings. Additionally, staged exhibits will be mounted by both commercial and amateur groups. They will, in a unique feature, be competing for cash prizes for the best exhibits. Both individual plants and exhibits will be eligible also for ribbons, trophies and the much coveted American Orchid Society awards. The public is also invited to bring plants for exhibit and judging on Friday January 28th between 12 and 5 PM.

Orchid theme fine art paintings, watercolors and drawings have become a major aspect of the Festival. Orchid related arts and crafts will be offered for sale as well. A full range of supplies, materials, fertilizers and tools for all the orchid grower’s needs will be offered by several vendors.

Lectures by internationally renowned experts as well as growing classes for amateurs and more advanced hobbyists will be presented. Scientists from the University of Florida Sub-Tropical Research Station are among the featured speakers, bring the latest and best information on orchid culture. Local orchid societies will be there during the entire show to recruit new members and to help the public with their orchid related problems.

Miami’s first orchid event of the year promises in many aspects to be not only the first but the best!

The Festival is open to the public from 10:00 AM- 8:00 PM Saturday and 10-6 on Sunday. Plan to be there! Take either the 8th Street or Bird Road exits of the Fla. Turnpike and follow the signs about a mile and a half to the Fair Expo Center. The Festival is also easily accessed from the Palmetto Expressway (826) at Coral Way. Proceed West to 109 Street.

Admission is only $7.00 (cash, please) and there is ample free parking convenient to the fully air conditioned hall.

For further information or to arrange photo shoots or other extended coverage of this colorful tropical event, contact Dr. Martin Motes at martin.motes@gmail.com.

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