Speaker: Mary Gerritsen

Topic: Orchids in the Lost World (Roraima Tepui, Venezuela)
Travel virtually with Mary on an amazing orchid adventure, a trek to the top of Mt. Roraima, the tallest, and probably the most magnificent, of the South American Tepuis. This “island in the sky” features the most amazing rock formations, primitive plants, curious carnivorous plants (Heliamphora, Drosera, Utricularia) and lots of orchids.

Mary has been interested in plants for most of her adult life, and has been growing orchids on and off for the last 40 years, despite several cross country moves as part of her "other life" as a biomedical scientist. Her passion for orchids was rekindled when she moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1997 and attended an orchid show. Returning home with a few plants, she decided to join a local orchid society to learn more about taking care of them, and from these beginnings, her current passion grew exponentially! Now Mary truly has put her roots down, and has orchids in two greenhouses, five lath houses, her front porch, sun room, and anywhere else she can put them. Her collection of about two thousand plants, mostly species, is rich in masdevallias and other miniature orchids of many different genera. Mary has traveled extensively to see orchids in situ, including many countries in Central and South America, Southeast Asia, as well as Australia, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Madagascar, Europe & Mediterranean islands, the USA and Canada. She has co-authored six botanical books with co-author and photographer Ron Parsons "Masdevallias, Gems of the Orchid World", "Calochortus, Mariposa Lilies and their Relatives", "A Compendium of Miniature Orchid Species" (a two book set), "A Bay Area Guide to Orchids and their Culture" "The American Orchid Society Guide to Orchids and their Culture", and the recently released "The Compendium of Miniature Orchid Species, 2nd edition" (a four book set). Mary has served as president and vice president for both the Peninsula and San Francisco Orchid Societies, and is currently president and chief executive officer of the Orchid Conservation Alliance and a director of the Orchid Digest.

Speaker: Jason Fisher

Topic: Phragmipedium Flowers & Culture

• Co-owner and General Manager of Orchids Limited in Plymouth, MN.

• Manages 15,000 sq. ft. of growing space and a specialized seed laboratory.

• International speaker who has lectured for over 50 orchid societies across the US, Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

• Interests in East Asian species, slipper orchids, hybridizing and orchid aesthetics.

• Namesake of the world-famous "Phrag. Jason Fischer," one of the most highly-awarded hybrids in history.

• Content creator and educator, hosting both digital classes and on-site seminars.

Speaker: Peter Lin

Topic: 12 Months of Orchids

Peter started growing orchids over 40 years ago but then stopped due to school and starting a career. It wasn't until about 20 years ago that the orchid "bug" came back and he is now heavily involved once again! He is an accredited judge with the American Orchid Society, and a hybridizer of mini-catts. He enjoys meeting with other orchid enthusiasts and can often be found at various orchid shows and societies around the country.

Due to limited growing space, Peter likes to specialize in miniature orchids, both species and hybrids, and has received numerous AOS awards. His interests in orchids include Dendrobiums, Angraecoids, and Neofinetias. He is also known as "Mr Sophronitis" as he has a passion for growing and collecting them. He maintains a collection of a several thousand orchids at his home in Southern California in 3 small greenhouses, outdoors, as well as an offsite greenhouse.