MARCH / APRIL 1998

From the beginning, there has been this fascination with orchids-a curiosity so strong it defies all the logic that gardeners are supposed to possess.

The first time I was offered the opportunity to write about gardening, the editor wanted me to do an article about orchids and I asked the obvious: "What's an orchid?" She responded that I would do fine.

At least I knew enough to find Hausermann's, and in all the years since I have never tired of fighting the throngs to bask in the glory of that last weekend in February-elbow to elbow with hundreds, nay thousands, of similarly smitten orchid lovers in those wonderful old greenhouses in Villa Park.

Then there is the Illinois Orchid Society, whose annual soirÔø‡e is March 14-15 at the Chicago Botanic Garden. It is more refined and diverse but the rooms are filled with those strange, wonderful flowers and the people who can grow them. I've tried (mightily) to grow them. There was one paphiopedilum that seemed happy enough, blooming three straight years. Then one of the cats just up and ate it. A cattleya cross is pondering whether to bloom now. Why I keep trying is the failure of the gardener's logic-I should just appreciate them and buy a new one when I want flowers.

Early on, I had occasion to meet Jim Spatzek. One can hardly mention the Illinois Orchid Society without finding a connection to Jim Spatzek. "You almost got me fired," he reported after one article that mentioned he would be playing hooky from work to attend an orchid meeting. Perhaps I can repay a portion of that debt by allowing him the soapbox this issue to give us the guest editorial.

Jim has been fascinated with orchids even longer than I have-and he can grow them. If you don't already grow them, we hope you will let Susan Tan's article on Orchids 101 convince you of their charm and growability. If you're similarly smitten, we hope you can gain some greater insights.

March is a truly busy month by any standard. Beginning the 14th and lasting for nine days is the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, where more than 150,000 winter-weary Chicagoans will gather to look at the latest and greatest and prepare ourselves for the growing season that is on the horizon. Managing Editor Carolyn Ulrich captures the spirit and sweat that goes into the show in "Prep Time: How One Team Brings Magic to the Flower Show" beginning on page 38. Craig Bergmann's creations are almost always the talk of the show, and this year's display certainly has all the earmarks of a conversation piece.

If you attend the show, by all means stop by our booth (#215) and say hello. It is one of the major reasons to do these shows-to hear your stories, concerns, successes, and failures. We don't promise cures, but perhaps we can steer you to a source that can help you. And if you can't make the show, look for us in another place, the web. Our site (designed by Terri Wymore, who also helps design the magazine) is at http://www.chicagolandgardening.com.

We can field your questions there as well and e-mail you a reply.