All the orchid societies in the Southwest meet twice a year and this past September 21 we met in Shreveport with an orchid show and meetings.  I always look forward to an opportunity to raise funds for future orchid habitat preservation, programs and talk to about these programs to visitors at the show. It is important that we all take steps to protect our critical orchid biome, and this applies to visitors as well as to the orchid society members.

My current habitat conservation display features orchids of Palau. Visitors enjoying seeing the beautiful nature photography by Benjamin J. Crain of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). In addition, I always have a display table of orchid art items, including my limited edition watercolor prints, note cards, bookmarks and mugs, to raise funds for future habitat preservation programs. I donate 100% of gross sales to these programs.

This year at the Shreveport show we had a very special item for sale, with proceeds going to orchid preservation. Artist Anna Butcher donated prints of her original painting of an Amazonian tree frog. The picture above shows Anna with her parents, Jana and Doug, members of the Oklahoma City Orchid Society.

The best part of participating in these shows is having the opportunity to meet and talk with so many people who love nature and who truly appreciate the beauty of orchids.