Exploring Native Plants: Native Orchids of Georgia

Georgia is home to more than fifty species of wild orchids. Although some are flamboyant, many are small and inconspicuous. This presentation employs the magic of macro-photography to provide close-up views of many of them. Some will be old friends while others fall into the categories of rare, obscure, bizarre, enigmatic or even controversial. In addition, viewers will learn about the amazing life histories of some of these fascinating plants as well as why several prestigious institutions, including the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Texas Tech Univ., Jacksonville Zoo and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, have selected some of Georgia’s orchids as important research subjects. Aided by a cadre of Citizen Scientists, these and other organizations may soon unlock the secret to growing select orchid species in our backyard wildflower gardens.

About the Speaker:

Robert Sprauge is past President of the Native Orchid Conference (NOC) as well as a long-time Director and past President of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society (SEPOS). A number of Bob’s photos and articles have appeared in the monthly publication of the American Orchid Society. He has worked closely with the North Branch Land Trust (NBLT) and Longwood Gardens on a project to preserve a unique population of native orchids in Pennsylvania. He has collaborated with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center collecting material for DNA analysis of North American Platantheras. Bob has spoken at numerous orchid societies and garden clubs in the mid-Atlantic area as well as the NJ Pinelands Commission, PA Master Gardeners, NJ Native Plant Society, Mt. Cuba Center and the North Carolina Botanical Garden. He has also led field trips for NBLT, Mt. Cuba Center and the NOC.