Monthly Meetings

Meetings are normally held the second Monday of each month with the exception of July and August. Meetings start promptly at 7:00pm (with doors opening at 6:00 pm) and run unto 9:00 pm. Our meetings feature informative programs, guest speakers, orchid exhibits, plant raffles, and sales. One Meeting each year features a special auction. The auction is a chance for members to sell their extra plants and to bid on new ones to add to their collection.
Meetings are held at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, Center for Urban Horticulture, in NHS Hall (Northwest Horticultural Society). Get Directions.
Since the start of the Covid19 pandemic we have also had an option to attend the meetings remotely. To get get access to this, please become a member!

Meetings are free and open to the public, however we encourage you to sign up for a membership to support the society and receive all the benefits the society has to offer.

Meeting features

Standard meeting agenda:
6:00        : Doors Open
6:00- 7:00: Social Time, Plant Clinic, and Plant Table Setup
7:00- 7:05: Announcements
7:05- 7:30: Plant Table Walkthrough
7:30- 8:30: Keynote Presentation
8:30- 8:45: Break (15 mins)
8:45- 9:15: Raffle
9:15- 9:30: Room Cleanup

Orchid Exhibits “Plant Table”
At our monthly meetings there is an exhibition table where members can display their blooming plants. During the meeting a member does the “plant table walk,” points out unusual, interesting, or exceptionally well-grown plants and asks some of the growers for information about their plants and growing conditions.

Plant Sales Table
Members may bring a maximum of 5 orchid plants or compots to each regular monthly meeting to sell. Fifteen percent of money collected goes to the society. Although only members may sell plants, anyone in attendance may purchase plants.

Plant Raffle
Our raffle table is stocked with orchids donated by local botanic gardens and by members. Members may purchase raffle tickets at meetings for $1 each. The raffle is held at the end of every regular meeting and is a great way to expand your orchid collection.

Library of Orchid Publications

The NWOS maintains a library of orchid books, videotapes, and periodicals. The Society librarian brings a small selection of items from the library for check-out by members at monthly meetings, though all items are available by arrangement with the librarian. See what’s in the library here. If you’d like to check out a book or tape from our Library, please contact our librarian a minimum of two (2) weeks before the next meeting.

Orchid Auction

One of our monthly meetings is devoted to an auction of orchid plants. It is a chance for members to sell “surplus” plants and to add new ones to their collection.

August Picnic

Instead of a meeting in August, the society holds a picnic for all of its members. The picnic is a social gathering held during a weekend in August, the date and location depending on weather.

Holiday Gift and Potluck

In the month of December our meeting is a holiday potluck where each member receives a holiday gift orchid.