Mickey and his orchids took center stage at the Boca Grande Garden Club’s first meeting

Mickey with Chairs Jodie Pearah and Diane Johnson. Photos provided by Nora Lea.

NORA LEA REEFE - On Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the Boca Grande Garden Club’s first meeting of the season, Mickey Carnell of Blue Pagoda Orchids in Englewood delivered an entertaining and educational program on growing orchids, passing around plants and demonstrating re-potting techniques that seemed to go against conventional gardening wisdom.

  Instead of re-potting to larger pots, Mickey insisted that orchids need to be in the smallest possible pot with the roots spread apart instead of bunched together. Claiming that he had killed more than his share of orchids in his day, he warned that the most common mistake in growing orchids is overwatering, or allowing the roots to rot in media that keeps the plant too moist.  He also passed around samples of mounted plants with no media and discussed the roles that light, temperature, and air movement play in creating healthy orchids. At times jovial and self-deprecating, Mickey nevertheless provided very useful and practical advice on how to care for orchids in both yards and homes.

Program Chairs Diane Johnson and Jodie Pearah were pleased that Mickey was able to share his knowledge and experience in such a delightful manner. A graduate of Ohio State’s Plant Health Management program, Mickey also operates a mobile greenhouse service, delivers orchids to your home or yard, and offers maintenance service for them as well. His business has won Englewood’s Small Business of the Year Award and he has served as president of the Englewood Area Orchid Society.

Following his presentation, he and his wife sold dozens of orchids at the tea organized by Jane Moore, which was held in the Woman’s Club Room.  Using an African theme designed by hospitality chair Bettie Coulter, Jane and the new co-chairs Sandy Bilski and Rose Marie Iovino kept the crowd fed while they waited in line to buy their orchids.

The club’s next two programs will be the annual Christmas Luncheon to be held at the Gasparilla Inn on December 7 and a workshop conducted by Georgia McGurl on Arranging Flowers Under Water on December 8. Call Marjorie Moore at 964-1264 or Judy Thomas at 964-2951 for information on the luncheon or Christian Scott-Hansen at 964-4430 for information on the workshop.

If you are interested in joining the Garden Club, send a check for $50 to Treasurer Doe Flannery at POB 1246 along with your local postal address, your email address and your local phone number.

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