VI Garden Club- STT

L.R.

I remember the sampling of garden goods that we got from you. Soooo good. Fresh and perfect veggies. Seems like you are doing well with all your gardening. Have you tried growing a passion fruit vine? They seem to be everywhere in my 'backyard'. I have grown some pepper plants from seeds that are doing well. Hope you find someone. My plants are all potted since I don't seem to stay in one place. 🙂

T

Yes, you are off to a good start with the orchid and hibiscus people. Me, I have a black thumb, so I have no idea.

RL

LR: Also the Agricultural Extension over on the Northside. They seem to do a lot of outreach. My thumbs are worthless. 🙁

Hello LR,

The St. Thomas Argricultural Fair is November 19th & 20th. So mark your calendar! They typically have a few demonstrations and various gardeners and vendors set up.

The Rastafarian group you are refering to... I think its called We Grow Food Inc. 776-3500.

Have you been in touch with the Orchid Soceity already?

--Islander

Thank you, Ronnie, Teresa, East Ender & Islander!

I'll be sure to check out the Agricultural Fair. Ronnie, I thought you might know someone who had been on the island a long time....c'mon! You know everyone! 😉

Islander, I have heard of, but not contacted, the Orchid Society. I have heard growing orchids is an art... and the one I'm most interested in (Vanilla planifolia/ fragrans) is supposedly very very difficult to grow/fruit! Vanilla blooms just once a year, and must be hand-pollinated. After that, it takes 9 months to produce the pod (vanilla bean) which must then be cured. But that still doesn't explain why the only grocery store on St. Thomas that I have found to carry them charges a whopping $9.35 a bean!
(I've found alternate suppliers).

So if you have contact info for the Orchid Society, I'll give it a go- surely people who coax along these delicate flowers know a thing or two about successful gardening!

I'll also contact We Grow Food Inc- thanks for the number!

Best,

LR

Hello LR,

Here is their email: stxorchidsociety@hotmail.com

And some information on them...

The St. Croix Orchid Society was organized about 35 years ago, by a group of individuals who loved plants, especially orchids, and were interested in teaching people in the community about them. They also wanted to expose the community to the beauty of the many varieties of orchids. There was an Orchid Society on St. Thomas, but it no longer exists. There are over 60 members, but they are not all active. Anyone can join the Society by filling an application, paying the dues, and participating in the activities of the Society. The annual dues are $25.00 per person, or $40.00 per couple. One could become a life member by paying $200.00. Most, if not all of the members, love plants, and are most interested in growing orchids and teaching others about them. They have monthly meetings, with some exceptions during the holidays. At the meetings they have demonstrations in repotting, fertilizing and keeping plants cleans of scales etc. They sponsor the annual Orchid Show in February and some other events.

--Islander

St. Croix Orchid Society will have a great selection of orchids for sale at the St. George Botanical Garden on Oct 9th from 11:00-4:00. 692-2874. It's the Fall 2005 Nursery Sale.