Election Section

February weekends may be chilly, gloomy, and gray in the Bay Area. But even if you don’t have the time or the means to jet off to Hawaii for a respite, you can still find some tropical magic only a bridge away from Berkeley at the San Francisco Orchid Society’s 2004 Pacific Orchid Exposition, Feb. 19-22. 

The exposition has been held for 52 years and is one of the Bay Area’s biggest and most showy garden-themed events. It is held at the Festival Pavilion, an old military pier gracefully converted into event space at Fort Mason Center on the northeast corner of San Francisco’s Marina District. 

Orchids aren’t just corsage flowers. Some 750 orchid genera contain at least 25,000 species, and there are tens of thousands of cultivated hybrids. Hundreds of varieties—and an estimated 150,000 plants--will be on display and for sale at the exposition. 

Orchid plants can be as tiny as a fingernail or as big as a wine barrel. Some species bloom singly, others in cascades of hundreds of flowers. And although many orchids do require hot house conditions, many others can be quite content in a sheltered corner of an East Bay garden, even in the winter. 

Quite a few temperate or upland species and varieties bloom reliably and do just fine outdoors year-round in most parts of Berkeley. They include cymbidiums, many masdevallias and epidendrums (sometimes called “reed orchids”), some dendrobiums (especially those from Australia) and some odontoglossums.  

Orchid blossoms range from near true-blues through reds and oranges to white and brown; shapes and patterns are some of the most intricate found in nature. We’ve come home in past years with orchids with vivid pink candy stripes, polka dots, purple/green flowers, and chocolate or vanilla scents. 

My personal favorites include the masdevallias, small plants with striking up-side-down V-shaped flowers in colors from white to purple to butter yellow. They start popping into bloom around now, even after a cold winter outdoors. 

If you go to the show, allow time to wander through the commercial grower and orchid society exhibits. Spectacular blooming orchids, foliage plants, and non-living props (this year the theme is “The Art of Orchids”) form dazzling displays packed with hundreds of flowers or individual specimens of prizewinning size, rarity, or condition. Many hobbyists bring their best orchids from home to show off here. 

Beyond the displays you’ll find booths for more than 60 growers and sellers from as near as Richmond and Alameda and as far (in most years) as Southern California, Hawaii, Thailand and even Central America. A few orchid-related items are for sale (pots, growing media, tools) but mostly it’s plants, plants, plants. 

Most growers specialize, and some only sell direct to the public a few times a year at shows like this. Prices are often surprisingly low for the quality of plant offered. Some purists market only species orchids, the rarer and odder the better. Others promote colorful hybrids they’ve created themselves.  

There are wall displays of alluring tropical vandas, tables loaded down with prime cymbidiums (including space-saving miniature varieties), bevies of brilliant phalaenopsis (typically known as the moth orchid), and legions of ladyslipper orchids.  

The weekend show follows a 6:30–10:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, “Gala Benefit Preview,” costing $35 at the door ($30 in advance). The preview is worthwhile if you want first crack at the best orchids, or just want to enjoy something different on an evening out.  

Gala benefits include a modest prize drawing (you have to be present to win), free finger food (sometimes of indifferent quality and limited quantity), wine from some two dozen vineyards, a souvenir wineglass, and musical entertainment. 

Weekend general admission is $11, or $8 for seniors (65+) or disabled visitors. Children under 12 get in for free, except on opening night. Hours vary slightly; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m..  

For information regarding shows, tickets, parking and directions, go to www.orchidsanfrancisco.org, or call (415) 665-2468. Parking can be difficult, but there’s a free shuttle from a remote lot, and you can also park at the Marina Green and walk in, enjoying the spectacular north waterfront setting. 

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