Welcome to the

Southern Tier
Orchid
Society

About Us

Annual Show

STOS Annual Orchid Show 2024

The Southern Tier Orchid Society will hold their AOS-judged orchid show:

April 20-21

Saturday 12-5 pm - Sunday 12-4 pm

Roberson Museum and Science Center, 30 Front Street, Binghamton, NY

The show featured displays of beautiful and exotic orchids from STOS, the Central New York Orchid Society (CNYOS) The Genesee Region Orchid Society (GROS), and our vendors:

Fair Orchids (Kim Fedderson)

J & L Orchids (Ines and Lucas Carreno)

Taida Orchids (Sammy Lai, Amber)

We will have raffles each day, tours, artwork for sale, potting demos on Sunday, information about orchids, including the vanilla orchid, activities such as scavenger hunts, orchid-gami and more. Admission is FREE.

STOS memberships will be half-price for new members.

Meet the Artists whose work will be for sale:

John Carnessali (Syracuse, NY): This photographer combines his passion for orchids with his keen eye to capture their delicate beauty in captivating photos.
Christine Chin (Ithaca, NY): An artist and photographer, Christine's love for orchids shines through her work, inspiring all who see it.
Raelynn Dieffenbach (Troy, PA): From creating watercolors to mixed media featuring orchids and other botanicals, Raelynn's artistic journey culminates in a stunning display at the STOS show.
Charlotte Holden (Lewisboro, NY): This acclaimed illustrator has created botanical works for prestigious institutions like the NY Botanical Garden and the San Francisco Orchid Society.

Plant Registration info:

Show setup begins at 2pm (not earlier!) on Friday April 19 and goes until 7pm.

Judging will begin at 9am on Saturday. Not open to the public.

Here are the links for registering your orchids for ribbon or AOS judging. Registration deadline is midnight April 18.

List of Classifications

Register your plants here

Bulk Registration Form

(if many entries. Send completed form to stosorchids@gmail.com)

STOS had 2 exhibits at the 2023 show, tying for 3rd place in the Society Exhibit category

AOS Awards at our 2023 Show

Meiracyllium trinasutum var. album 'Ghost Gail' CHM/AOS (83pts.) Gail Gunsalus (STOS)

Papiopedilum Vexillarium 'Fair Orchids' AM/AOS (83pts) Kim Fedderson 2023

Gallery of AOS awarded orchids at STOS shows

The Roberson Museum

News

Speaker at our March 17 meeting
Carol Klonowski
“Tolumnias: the True Miniature Orchid "

Tolumnia is a genus formerly known as ‘equitant oncidiums’ up until 1986. They are true miniature orchids, fully grown at less than 8 inches, and have many different colors and patterns on flowers held high on slender spikes. The hybridization of this genus has been rapid and today there are many to choose from and should be a part of anyone’s collection.

Carol Klonowski has been growing orchids since the 1980's when a friend in Berkeley, California, gave her a cattleya and it bloomed out with three big, dark lavender flowers and an intoxicating fragrance. She built an entire greenhouse in her backyard to accommodate the precious plant, which only led her to buy more orchids. Then another friend gave her a gift membership to the Orchid Society of California and it's been a serious hobby ever since.

She can recall going to monthly orchid society meetings at the Orchid Society of California. where orchid legends such as the late Frank Fordyce would be available to answer the many questions an eager hobbyist could ask.
After retirement from her career in Information Technology, Carol has served as Director, Vice President, and President of the Orchid Society of California for the past two decades and is currently a Fully Accredited Judge with the American Orchid Society, California Sierra Nevada Judging Center. Her love of travel and speaking programs combine with her orchid passion to allow her to visit, present talks, and judge orchids in shows across the USA and overseas.

Meting will be both In-persn and via zoom. Zoom link will be sent to all members.