Learn, see and buy at the two-day festival on April 1-2

This admission-free plant and art sale is on April 1-2, Sat-Sun, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at El Chorro Regional Park, 3450 Dairy Creek Road. The event is presented by the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden (SLOBG) and the Five Cities Orchid Society FCOS).

Discover the secrets of growing and re-blooming both the easy-growing and the more demanding orchids. Learn the tricks of orchid growing from orchid society members and vendors and buy new plants and local art to your hearts content. The SLO Botanical Garden is also selling native plants along with a variety of artists, artisans and vendors.

With the California Central Coast providing the ideal climate for orchids and new hybrids that are easier to care for, orchids are more enjoyable than ever. Many varieties flourish on windowsills or sheltered outside areas and are a delight to behold. This event provides an opportunity to collect new plants and get answers to questions about orchids. Six of California’s talented orchid growers/hybridizers are offering their plants for sale.

Featured orchid vendors include Sunset Valley Orchids, renowned for the development of the black orchid “After Midnight” and their Dendrobium and Cattleya hybridizing programs; Ambriz Kingdom of Plants, selling orchids suitable for outdoor growing in coastal areas, as well as amazing Tillandsias (air plants) which need little care; Orchid Design, which offers outdoor growing Cymbidiums; SLO Orchids, selling insect eating “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” carnivorous Venus fly traps; Orchids of Los Osos, offering a wide selection of unique orchids including pansy orchids (Miltoniopsis); and CalCoast Orchids, specializing in the world’s number one selling house plant, the moth orchid (Phalaenopsis). Their new salmon-colored variety sold out in the first hour at the SLOBG plant sale last March.

Additionally, SLOBG and FCOS are be hosting a fundraising Cake Auction at 3 p.m. on Sat, April 1. The cakes have been donated by local bakeries and private bakers and promises to be a lively and enthusiastic event.

Orchid Fest 2023 is at El Chorro Regional Park, 3450 Dairy Creek Road, (off Highway 1 between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo). Dates are Sat-Sun, April 1-2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free but there is a $3 per car parking fee. For more information about SLOBG visit slobg.org. For more information about FCOS, visit fcos.org.