We had our annual Greater North Texas Orchid Society (GNTOS) auction on Sunday July 3. Once again, I was honored to be the auctioneer. The auction brought over $800 for the club.

Even better than the extra revenue for GNTOS is the fact that through our donations of plants from our personal collections we create the possibility for these plants to be propagated and possibly passed on to other people. The gene pool continues to be diversified. If we all just kept our plants to ourselves, when one of those plants dies, that’s the end of it. But by sharing a keiki or a division from one of our plants, we double the chances that this particular plant’s genes will create a new generation.

Because so many species in the wild are constantly lost, due to deforestation and loss of habitat, our practice of sharing our plants with each other is a way to create a special little “preservation island” right here in Dallas.

Many thanks to all the GNTOS members for their generous contribution. A grand time was had by all.