If you’ve ever visited Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, you may associate our historic estate with the beautiful and unique orchid flower. This is no doubt because, included on our vast property, is an Orchid House that houses a stunning variety of orchids from all over the world. Additionally, we have been hosting an annual International Orchid Festival as well as beginner & intermediate Orchid Classes for over a decade.
Many may be wondering, “Why do we place such a specific emphasis on orchids?” This is an excellent question. While our gardens contain a multitude of plants from a variety of climate zones (including our Desert Garden, Maritime Forest, and much more), we do place a particular emphasis on orchids. This is due to the fact that Evelyn Bartlett, one of Bonnet House’s original owners, was a prolific collector of orchids.
We pay homage to Evelyn and her interests by not only offering opportunities for guests to view orchids from around the globe in full bloom, but also to purchase and learn more about caring for orchids on their own. This August, we are happy to announce that we will be starting our popular Orchid Care Classes!
The first class will take place on Tuesday, August 6th, from 9:30-11:30am. This class will cover the basics of orchid care, and will include helpful information on the various types of orchids, growing locations, and basic cultivation techniques. Each class is followed by an informative guided tour of our Orchid Display House as well as our Orchid Greenhouses. This course is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
For advanced orchid care techniques, our intermediate classes will take place on Tuesday, August 13th, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. These classes will cover all aspects of transplanting orchids, with a special emphasis on the techniques and uses of different materials including cork, driftwood, plaques, baskets, and more. This course is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. To secure your place in the class, click here.
You can join us in celebrating the legacy of Evelyn Bartlett by attending our Orchid Care Classes. Regardless of your knowledge of orchid care techniques, we hope to see you at our upcoming orchid classes this August. These classes are very popular and will fill up quickly, so be sure to reserve your spot today!
