After massive repair to flood-stricken greenhouses, Orchidfest is back

Chester — Black Meadow Flora in Chester was forced to postpone the Hudson Valley Orchidfest because of the terrible damage Hurricane Irene did to its greenhouses. "To say we got hit pretty hard is an understatement," said Bridge. "But I made up my mind that we would come out of the situation better than ever, and we have." But after a major effort by the Black Meadow staff, the greenhouses have been restored to good condition, and Orchidfst is back on: from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19. Orchid enthusiasts of all skill levels and interests are invited. Highlights include a free demonstration on the selection and care of orchids at 11 a.m., three door prizes of Black Meadow Flora orchids, informal tours of the greenhouses from noon to 2 p.m., and a repotting workshop at 3 p.m. Orchidfest will mark the beginning of enhanced services for retail customers: scheduled hours, an expanded line of products, such as fertilizer and decorative pots, repotting and consulting services by appointment, and a monthly customer appreciation door prize for in-store visitors. The greenhouses will continue to be open by appointment. Orchidfest will include plants for holiday gift giving and decorating, said company owner Margaret C. Bridge. The greenhouses will be filled with thousands of orchids in various stages, from plugs to plants in full bloom. Black Flora goes retail The day also will be the official launch date of the company's new online retail store, HudsonValleyOrchids.com, and the announcement of a new line of party packages. "We learned from our wholesale customers that there is a market for Black Meadow orchids far beyond a convenient driving distance to our greenhouses," said Bridge. Retail sales, which didn't exist a year ago, now account for about 15 percent of Black Meadow's business, she said. "We heard opportunity knock when retail customers responded so positively to our initial efforts," said Bridge. As retails sales have flourished, most wholesale customers have placed repeat orders, including the New York Botanical Garden. BlackMeadow's first major venture was to provide the celebrated garden with 3,500 plants. The open house will also be a belated celebration of Black Meadow's first year in business. In addition to the more commonly available orchid species, such as phalaenopsis and cattleya, Black Meadow also offers less-known varieties, including dendrobium, miltonia, odontglossum, oncidium and paphiodedilum. Anyone who wants a particular orchid or color can call Bridge. Retail hours will vary based on seasonal demands, such as Christmas and Valentine's Day. Holiday hours run from Nov. 20 through Dec. 31: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays (except for Christmas Eve, when the greenhouses close at 2 p.m., and Dec. 26, when the greenhouses will be closed). Registration in advance is required for the demo and workshops. For more information or to register for Orchidfest, call 469-5055.