The New Mexico Orchid Guild usually meets at 1:30 PM on the second Sunday of the month at the Albuquerque Garden Center, 10120 Lomas Boulevard Northeast.
Please join us on Sunday, February 11th when we will welcome our special guest speaker Ron Midgett from New Earth orchids in Santa Fe.
Ron Midgett began growing orchids in 1969 in the orchid-rich environment of Southern California. Since then, he has grown orchids in many different regions of the US and in the Caribbean for 3 years. Currently, he resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a breeder with an emphasis on Cattleyas, Paphiopedilums, and Oncidinae. Several cultivars from his crosses have received AOS awards. Ron has originated and registered over 100 Cattleya crosses as well as hybrids in other genera such as Oncidinae and Paphiopedilum.
In 1990, Ron founded the New England Orchid Company in Franklin, MA. In 2003, he moved his orchid business to New Jersey and changed the name to New Earth Orchid Co., aka New Earth Orchids. In 2010, New Earth Orchids was moved to Santa Fe, NM.
In addition to Ron’s activities in the orchid business, he has been very active in the local orchid societies wherever he lived. This includes serving as an officer, chairing orchid shows, and running the New England Orchid Fair for 3 years. Before leaving New Jersey, Ron founded the Jersey Highlands Orchid Society.
Ron is an accredited AOS judge currently serving in the Rocky Mountain Region. He serves as chairperson for AOS judging for the New Mexico Orchid Guild Shows. In 2011, Ron was invited to participate in judging the Taiwan International Orchid Show.
Ron has authored articles published in Orchids and in the Orchid Digest. He was given the prestigious Ernest Heatherington award from the Orchid Digest for his article, “Beyond Sc. Beaufort—A 25 Year Odyssey in Cattleya Breeding”. Ron feels a special honor in receiving this award because Ernest was one of his first mentors.
Ron has spoken in many venues across the country. He has been an invited speaker three times to the prestigious Cattleya Symposium held each summer in Florida. He has done speaking tours in New England, Central Florida, Mid’ Florida, California, and The Texas Circuit.
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