Peninsula Orchid Society

Peninsula Orchid Society Speakers Schedule: November 27, 2009

The Smithsonian Orchid Collection

Thomas Mirenda

Our speaker for November will be Thomas Mirenda, and he will be talking about the Smithsonian Orchid Collection, a survey of the history of the Smithsonian orchid collection, who started it, how it flourished, its ups and downs, exhibitions plans and goals for the future.

An orchid grower since his childhood, Tom is a very enthusiastic orchid grower and promoter of the Orchid Lifestyle i.e. Lots oplants...old worn-out clothes and furniture and a diet with no protein...Even though he studied Marine Biology in college on the West Coast,....(the world's most impractical major) he always returned to Horticulture as a hobby and eventually a career. He has worked at some of the East Coast's most cherished botanic gardens and private estates.

Tom's interest in orchids has influenced him to travel extensively through Latin America and he is an expert on the orchids of Costa Rica and Panama.

Tom is in his 9th year as the Museum Specialist for the Orchid Collection at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. The Smithsonian collection is an extr emely diverse assemblage of species and hybrids from all over the world, collected for their educational, conservation and ornamental value. He is also responsible for supplying blooming plants year-round for the many horticultural displays of the Smithsonian, including its annual, five months in duration (!), Orchid Exhibition.