Latest News

News and pictures from our latest meetings and events

June monthly meeting and Gardeners World Live

This was our AGM with Chris and Marian Stephens giving a talk together with photos on 'Bees, Honey & Flowers'. This was very interesting and they brought some of their honey to sell. They did not want a fee but we gave a donation to the Green Leaf Trust which...

May 2026 monthly meeting and Suffolk Show

In May we were treated to the exploits of Bill and Andy on their trip to the World Orchid Show in Dresden! I gather they really enjoyed themselves and despite neither speaking German they managed to make themselves understood on their journey to the Show - the...

April 2026 monthly meeting

Our guests at our April meeting were Colin Thorburn and Bryan Adams from the Orchid Society of East Anglia, both accredited British Orchid Council (BOC) judges, who gave us an introduction to orchid judging. The basics are as follows: All plants must have a label and...

Suffolk Orchid Society Annual Show 7th March 2026

An early date for our Show this year in no way affected our members' ability to deliver the goods, and once again we put up a prolific display - ably supported with a lovely display by our friends from the Orchid Society of East Anglia. The trade stands of Lawrence...

March 2026 monthly meeting

Our guest speaker this month was Simon White, who is now retired after a career of 43 years working for a single company - Peter Beales Roses (now part of Bells Horticultural). After introducing some of the horticultural sundries that he had brought for sale, Simon...

February 2026 meeting

NEWS We ask members to rally round to support our Annual Show on 7 March, in particular: Help with catering, to provide cakes etc. - Grazyna has a list. Volunteers to help run the kitchen, tombola etc. This is a pressing need, as a number of members who would...

January 2026 monthly meeting

NEWS This month we had our Plant Clinic, where our experienced growers Bill Gardiner and Andy Gissing (and anyone else able to contribute) gave advice to mermbers about problem plants they brought to the meeting. Tony Weavers won the Novices table with one of his...

November 2025 monthly meeting

NEWS This was our annual social evening - we took part in a 'Round the World' Picture Quiz, won by Sue and John, then shared a buffet meal.  Ken Frost won the 'Novices' table with his Dendrobium hybrid, and Paul Eaton won the 'Winners' table with his Masdevallia...

October 2025 monthly meeting

NEWS Andy Gissing brought in cakes in celebration of Angela’s 85th birthday. David Mittel won the Novices table with his Miltonia Queen Anne. Bill Gardiner won the Winners table with his Bulbophyllum Elizabeth Ann Buckleberry. Runner-up was Paul Eaton with his...

September 2025 monthly meeting

NEWS Entries for the BOC photo competition this year will be accepted from individuals, not Societies as in the past.  The closing date for entries is 31-Dec-25 (although they would like to receive them earlier if possible) - Carol wil send out details. The November...

OSEA Spring Show 7-Apr-24

On Sunday 7-Apr-24, the Orchid Society of East Anglia held their Spring Show at The Costessey Centre, Longwater Lane, Norwich NR8 5AH.  Returning the favour they had shown us at our Show in March, several Society members contributed plants to put up a stand at their...

read more

March 2024 monthly meeting

Our March 2024 meeting was honoured with a visit by Helen Milner, who gave us a talk on 'Mounted Orchids'.  Starting with a general introduction to orchids and their habits of growth, she focused on epiphytic orchids and contrasted two types - those that grow in...

read more

Suffolk Orchid Society Annual Show 2 March 2024

Our annual Show on 2 March 2024 was an even greater success than last year's, with credit and thanks due to everyone who helped by publicising the event, bringing their plants in flower, setting up the display, admitting and caring for our visitors, providing...

read more

February 2024 monthly meeting

Tina and Roger Loose visited us for our February 2024 meeting, to tell us about 'Orchids of Rhodes'. Tina and Roger give these talks to support 'Feedback Madagascar' (https://www.feedbackmadagascar.org/), a charity that works with some of the poorest people in...

read more

January 2024 monthly meeting

Some of our members were unable to come to our January meeting due to an accident that blocked the A14.  Nevertheless, we were able to present a decent showing on the display tables, and it was pleasing to see four entries on the Novices table.  Although we had no...

read more

November 2023 monthly meeting

Our meeting on 29-Nov-23 was our annual social evening; members brought food and drink to share. Many thanks to those who risked their plants in the cold weather to populate the display tables. John Beavan won the Novices table with his Aliceara (formerly Belleara)...

read more

October 2023 monthly meeting

Andrew Bannister of Orchid Alchemy came to our meeting on 25-Oct-23 to give us a talk entitled 'Tropical Orchids Without Heat', aimed at both new and established orchid growers. In a wide-ranging presentation, he contrasted the circumstances facing orchid growers...

read more

OSEA Autumn Show 22-Oct-23

The Society contributed a stand to the Orchid Society of East Anglia Autumn Show on 22-Oct-23. Thanks to Bill, Carol, Andy and David for contributing their fine plants to the display, and to Bill, David and Andy for setting it up.

read more

September 2023 monthly meeting

On 27-Sep-23 we held our first monthly meeting of the new season, and subscriptions were due. We are contributing a stand to the Orchid Society of East Anglia Autumn Show on 22-Oct-23 - can members please provide any orchids that they have in flower at the time...

read more

June 2023 monthly meeting

Our meeting on June 28 2023 included our AGM and a slideshow of orchid photos taken by the late Denis Pilcher. Paul Atkin was presented with the BOC Trophy for Best in Show at our Spring Show, and Bill Gardiner was awarded the David Barton Trophy for Best Plant on our...

read more

May 2023 monthly meeting and Suffolk Show

There were no display tables at our May 2023 meeting, as we had all taken our plants in flower to the Suffolk Showground the previous evening to contribute to the set-up of our stand there. And it was well worth it - the stand was awarded a 'Large Gold'!  Here's a...

read more

April 2023 monthly meeting

Phil Gould was our guest at our April meeting, to give us a talk entitled 'The Cambridge Connection' - covering his involvement in caring for the orchid collection at the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens (CBG). In a wide-ranging presentation beset with technical...

read more