Orchid Obscura: 2026 Pacific Orchid Exposition - Feb 26-Mar 1, 2026

Orchid Obscura: Pacific Orchid Exposition 2026

The 73rd Annual Pacific Orchid Exposition is a must-attend event for orchid enthusiasts! Get ready to immerse yourself in the mesmerizing world of orchids at the SF County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. This event will showcase themed flower displays, expert advice on growing orchids, and a stunning array of beautiful and rare orchids. Orchids and other plants will be for sale from members of the San Francisco Orchid Society as well as many local, national & international nurseries. The show runs from 10:00am - 5:00pm on Friday (February 27) & Saturday (February 28), and from 10:00am - 4:00pm on Sunday (March 1).

Interactive demonstrations will be conducted by experts with information about successfully growing and blooming orchids at home. You can learn about opportunities for more formal orchid and plant-related education at the , and for taking a more active role in orchid habitat conservation around the world by representatives of the .

Families are welcome, and there will be special activities for kids and people of all ages and interests.

Children 12 and under are free (Friday-Sunday) with a paid adult chaperone.

We thank , our premier sponsor, for supporting the San Francisco Orchid Society and this event, and for donating wine for the Preview Night fundraiser from 6:00pm-9:00pm on Thursday February 27th. At the Preview night, adult (21 years+) attendees will have their first chance to purchase plants and see the displays while enjoying live entertainment, wine and hors d'œuvres.

This year's theme is “Orchid Obscura: A Celebration of the Mysterious and Rarely Seen Orchids."

Step into the shadows and explore the enigmatic world of orchids like never before. Orchid Obscura shines a light on the rare, the unusual, and the curiously captivating side of the orchid family. From ghostly blooms to bizarre botanical adaptations, this event invites you to discover nature’s most elusive floral secrets. Immerse yourself in a realm where beauty meets the strange, and every petal tells a hidden story.

Displayed orchids will compete for cash prizes, and will be judged by the American Orchid Society for ribbons and trophies.

ORCHID & PLANT VENDORS will include:

... and more

Sponsors also include:

Info: We thank Oakville Ranch Winery, our premier sponsor, for supporting the San Francisco Orchid Society and this event, as well as donating wine for pouring at the Preview Night fundraiser from 6:00pm-9:00pm on Thursday February 27th, where adult (21 years+) attendees will have their first chance to purchase plants and see the displays while enjoying some entertainment, wine and hors d'œuvres.

Info: Interactive demonstrations at approximately 11am, 1pm and 2pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with experts on how to care for your orchids, including how to mount and repot them. Exact schedule listed here:
Friday:
11:00 - 11:45AM – Keeping your Orchid Alive (Bill Weaver)
1:00 - 1:45PM - ORCHIDS 101 (Paul Bourbin)
2:00 - 2:45PM – Repotting Your Orchid (Bill Weaver)

Saturday:
11:00 - 11:45AM – Repotting Your Orchid (Bill Weaver)
1:00 - 1:45PM - ORCHIDS 101 (Paul Bourbin)
2:00 - 2:45PM – Orchid Pests & Diseases (Ken Jacobsen)

Sunday:
11:00 - 11:45AM – Orchid Pests & Diseases (Ken Jacobsen)
1:00 - 1:45PM - Repotting Your Orchid (Carol Klonowski)
2:00 - 2:45PM – Cymbidium Division and Culture (Pierre Pujol)

Info: Bill Weaver was a plant geek starting at an early age. In his early days he would dumpster-dive at the local nursery looking for cuttings and plants that he could rescue. When he went away to college, he took along his terrariums of carnivorous plants. That is where he 'met' his first orchid. It was an unnamed white Cymbidium purchased at a drive-in theater flea market. This led to an ever-growing collection of orchids under lights in his little Palo Alto apartment. Moving to Sunnyvale, once he filled up his backyard, he started renting space in Half Moon Bay. Over 10 years now, he has expanded to over 10,000 square feet there. After 37 years as a Customer Engineer with Hewlett Packard, Bill is now retired and makes his 'orchid money' helping other growers with their greenhouses and repotting. He grows mostly Cymbidiums, Laelias, and other cool growing orchids. Over the years, Bill's plants have been awarded HCC, AM and FCC awards from the American Orchid Society, as well as several CC

Info: Many of us know Paul Bourbin as the SFOS "Orchid Doctor." With over 40 years of experience growing and rescuing orchids, Paul often volunteers to do repotting demonstrations, aid in plant identification and offers tips on caring for orchids at various places besides SFOS events, including at the Conservatory, Filoli Gardens and Sloat Garden Centers.
Paul is a native San Franciscan, long-time member of SFOS along with his wife Edith, and a self-described "polymath" who worked many years in the Wine & Spirits business and for nearly 15 years at White Oak Orchids before retiring. He has many hobbies and passions, and tends to prefer orchid epiphytes.
He continues to do volunteer work as a docent and horticulturist at the SF Conservatory of Flowers, as well as habitat restoration on Mt Sutro with the Sutro Stewards, is still quite involved with wine and spirit competitions, and has volunteered as a ward visitor at Laguna Honda Hospital for the past 40 years.

Info: Bill Weaver was a plant geek starting at an early age. In his early days he would dumpster-dive at the local nursery looking for cuttings and plants that he could rescue. When he went away to college, he took along his terrariums of carnivorous plants. That is where he 'met' his first orchid. It was an unnamed white Cymbidium purchased at a drive-in theater flea market. This led to an ever-growing collection of orchids under lights in his little Palo Alto apartment. Moving to Sunnyvale, once he filled up his backyard, he started renting space in Half Moon Bay. Over 10 years now, he has expanded to over 10,000 square feet there. After 37 years as a Customer Engineer with Hewlett Packard, Bill is now retired and makes his 'orchid money' helping other growers with their greenhouses and repotting. He grows mostly Cymbidiums, Laelias, and other cool growing orchids. Over the years, Bill's plants have been awarded HCC, AM and FCC awards from the American Orchid Society, as well as several CC

Info: Ken Jacobsen was first introduced to orchids by his uncle in the 1960’s and has been growing orchids for well over 50 years. His collection includes lots of Cattleyas and Laelias, Cymbidiums, Oncidiums, Odontoglossums, Lycastes, Masdevallias, and other genera. Ken and his wife, Amy, enjoy travelling to all areas of the world where orchids are grown, visiting the local growers, and seeing various species in the wild. Together, Amy and Ken have over 5000 orchids, not counting seedlings (and there are a lot of seedlings!). Ken is a judge in the AOS judging program, was a judge in the CSA judging program, and is a past AOS trustee. Amy and Ken have over 200 AOS awards on their plants, including 9 CCE awards and 3 AQ awards.

Info: Carol Klonowski has been growing orchids since the 1980's when a friend in Berkeley, California, gave her a cattleya and it bloomed out with three big, dark lavender flowers and an intoxicating fragrance. She built an entire greenhouse in her backyard to accommodate the precious plant, which only led her to buy more orchids. Then another friend gave her a gift membership to the Orchid Society of California and it's been a serious hobby and passion ever since. She can recall going to monthly meetings where orchid legends such as the late Frank Fordyce would be available to answer the many questions an eager hobbyist could ask. Carol has served as Director, Vice President, and President of the Orchid Society of California for most of the past two decades and is currently an Accredited Judge with the California Sierra Nevada Judging Center.

Info: Pierre has been growing orchids for the past thirteen years, both in his backyard in Redwood City and in an unheated greenhouse in Half-Moon Bay. He uses his life science education, natural curiosity, and thirst for new challenges to care for his collection and create new hybrids. In 2023, Pierre's plants received fifteen AOS awards, including eight for his cymbidium hybrids (4 AM, 3 HCC and 1 AQ) and his display at the last POE show in San Francisco was awarded the Orchid Digest Corp. Show Trophy. When not busy with orchids, Pierre is a part-time executive (and a founder) of several biotech & cleantech companies and keeps fit with triathlon training and other outdoor activities.

Info: ORCHID & PLANT VENDORS will include:
Afri Orchids
Brookside Orchids
CCSF EH&F
D&D Flowers
Ecuagenera Emerald City Orchids
Gold Country Orchids
Golden Gate Orchids
Kanjarin Nursery
Orchid Conservation Alliance (OCA)
Orchid Design
Orchids of Los Osos
Orquídeas Katía
Paph Paradise
Seed Engei
Seed Studio SF
Sunset Valley Orchids
T&T Orchids
Ten Shin Gardens
The Plant Lady S.F.
Tropical Exotique
... and more

Info: This year's theme is “Orchid Obscura: A Celebration of the Mysterious and Rarely Seen Orchids." Step into the shadows and explore the enigmatic world of orchids like never before. Orchid Obscura shines a light on the rare, the unusual, and the curiously captivating side of the orchid family. From ghostly blooms to bizarre botanical adaptations, this event invites you to discover nature’s most elusive floral secrets. Immerse yourself in a realm where beauty meets the strange, and every petal tells a hidden story. Displays and individual orchids will be judged by the American Orchid Society, as well as awarded ribbons, trophies and compete for cash prizes.

Info: Educational, interactive and fun activities for kids of all ages. Kids must be accompanied by an adult chaperone to participate at the booth. Note also that children 12 and under are free (Friday-Sunday) with paid adult.

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Host or Publisher San Francisco Orchid Society (SFOS)