Tuesday, February 16, 2016
OSMT Meeting

6 pm Special for New Members – Orchids 101: The Vanda Orchid Species

7 pm Presentation: Conservation – “What It Takes To Conserve Orchids In Equatorial Guinea”

Location: Cheekwood Botanical Gardens – directions, 1200 Forrest Park Drive Nashville Tennessee 37205

We welcome, Jason Ligon, Orchid Center Assistant Horticulturist Atlanta Botanical Garden to Nashville. In February, the OSMT moves from care, cultivation and practical tips for orchids to preservation of orchid species for the next generation on planet Earth.

In his talk, Jason will explore his experiences and how current research is applied in the field to conserve some of our beloved tropical orchids native to a West African biodiversity hotspot, Guinea.

Jason Ligon has a background in field research and horticulture.  While earning his B.S. from Clemson University, he mapped invasive plants for the National Park Service at Fire Island National Seashore.  He also studied and worked on the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea.  While there he established his own method to study the abundance, distribution and habitat preference of orchids in adjacent forest to the field station of Moka, Equatorial Guinea.

Over three years at the Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG), Jason volunteered with the outdoor horticulture, greenhouse, and conservation teams.  His favorite area was working in the tissue culture lab, growing and transplanting orchids from seed.

Since June 2014, Jason has been the assistant horticulturist for the Fuqua Orchid Center at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  There he curates the Madagascan orchid collection and oversees seedlings maturing from the lab.

All are welcome! Please bring a friend interested in conservation. For Orchids 101, our own OSMT President, John Cranshaw will show vanda potting, describe their culture and give a brief lecture.