Illinois Orchid Society Goes Hawaiian

"If you've had your orchids outside for the summer, it's time to start bringing them in, repotting summer bloomers and resetting the timers on indoor grow lights for shorter days," said Barry Lubin President of the Illinois Orchid Society. "It's also time to enjoy the many fall blooming varieties at the Orchid Aloha."

Twenty displays of orchids grown by the members of the Illinois Orchid Society and other guest societies will be artistically arranged among ferns and moss in Burnstein Hall in the Regenstein Center. Individual orchids in 128 classes will vie for red, white and blue ribbons. Twenty-five entries will receive "best of class" green ribbons.

Illinois Orchid Society members will have plants for sale. Other items available for purchase include supplies and equipment, books, pins, clothing and fertilizer. Michigan State University's Horticultural Sciences Department formulated the fertilizer specifically for orchids grown with Chicago tap water. Lectures on orchid growing for beginners and other topics take place at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 14. A repotting service to help get plants back on the right track is available for a $5 fee. -- www.chicagobotanic.org