Florida Native Orchids (click on picture for larger image)

If you live in St. Petersburg or anywhere within an hour or so of St. Petersburg, and if you love orchids or have even a little interest in growing them, you need to visit Florida Native Orchids!  We’ve all heard the term “hidden gem” throughout our lives, right?  And frequently, the term is used indiscriminately to hype something that isn’t all that great.  But this place is, really and truly, a hidden gem for anyone who has any interest at all in orchids.

It’s hidden because it’s not out on a main street.  This place is owned by a gentleman named Bud Spence, and he lives in his house on the grounds.  He’s been in business here for so long that he was grandfathered in, so even though his business is in a residential neighborhood, he’s allowed to run the business here because it existed before zoning laws said that it couldn’t.  The address is 6820 2nd Street North – it’s just east of 4th Street North, near Mystic Lake, a few blocks north of 62nd Avenue North.

And it’s a gem because it’s everything that you’d want it to be.  There’s a great selection of orchids here — greenhouse after greenhouse filled with orchids, organized by orchid type and by color.  And there’s even a showroom section in one of the greenhouses, where they always keep some showy numbers if you’re looking for a gift for someone or if you’re having a party and you want something spectacular. 

Twice a year, they hold a big sale/show on a Sunday – once in Spring and again in Fall.  Two weeks ago, I attended the Fall show and took a few photos, including one of Bud himself, happily tending to one of his pretty specimens.  Fose shows, they ramp up their stock so there is even a greater selection than usual, and other vendors come in and sell other Florida native plants, so it’s a fun time to visit this hideaway.  But if you don’t want to wait for one of the shows, you can stop by just about any time. 

For more information about Florida Native Orchids, including a map and operating hours, visit their web site.  But for an in-person experience with some true Florida beauty, make it a point to seek out this orchid haven and spend a little time talking to Bud or one of his assistants.

Bud Spence (click on picture for larger image)

Lavender Section (click on photo for larger image)