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Conference Center, Building A
Mother’s Day weekend in mid-May marks the return of a fine Fort Mason Center (FMC) tradition — Orchid Mania. This festive two-day celebration raises funds for HIV and AIDS groups and promotes awareness of orchid conservation issues.
 Professional and amateur orchid cultivators donate thousands of gorgeous plants to Orchid Mania for the “World’s Largest Orchid Garage Sale.” The event transforms the FMC Conference Center into a garden for a good cause. Along with orchids of all kinds, the sale offers potting media, moss, cork, hanging baskets, and other tools and materials.
Billed as an “entertaining weekend of glitter, controlled mayhem, and orchids, orchids, orchids,” Orchid Mania is a rare chance to find unusual species and special treasures. Education presentations take place throughout the weekend, covering hot topics like repotting Cymbidiums, mounting plants on slabs, pest control, and starting new plants from backbulbs.
Orchid Mania is entirely volunteer-run and contributes all proceeds to programs in HIV prevention and education and AIDS awareness and relief efforts. The 2005 event raised more than $20,000 for organizations in California, Columbia, and Vietnam. Whenever possible, Orchid Mania organizers try to find worthy groups in countries where orchids are abundant.
In addition to the giant sale in May, Orchid Mania operates a greenhouse in San Francisco where supporters can buy orchids throughout the year. The greenhouse is also home to Orchid Mania’s conservation collection of rare and at-risk plants and rescued orchids as well as plants donated year-round for the Mother’s Day sale.
Join Orchid Mania at the world’s most colorful Mother’s Day celebration. See May 13 and www.orchids.org for details.
— Claudia Willen
Photos: Eric Hunt
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