May 8, 2025 – Dennis Olivas “All you wanted to know about orchids: Orchid 101”

Doors open at 6:30pm for Show & Tell setup and conversations

Dennis Olivas

Our Speaker in April will be Dennis Olivas

Dennis was born on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. As a child, he helped his mother and aunt grow their orchids and got hooked. He joined the Future Farmers of America, and his project was raising and selling these beautiful and exotic plants. In 1980, he moved to the mainland and swore off orchids, but not for long, as he went to Rod McLellan’s Acres of Orchids in South San Francisco. From there, his whole life became one downward spiral. First, he filled his home with upwards of 6,000 plants. Later, he leased greenhouse space for his ever-burgeoning orchid collection. Glutton for punishment, his collection grew to overflow that 3,000 sq. ft. greenhouse in Half Moon Bay.

In November of 2013, with the help of close friends from the Bay Area, Napa, and Fresno, Dennis moved his obsession to a greenhouse in Daly City. A whole new ball game of learning how to raise orchids, still without heat but in an area that gets more sun and higher temperatures, with good water year-round. That original 3,000 sq. ft. greenhouse space has since expanded to 5,500 sq. ft.

Dennis has been the President of the Peninsula Orchid Society, San Francisco Orchid Society, Diablo View Orchid Society, and Santa Cruz Orchid Society. He is an accredited judge of the American Orchid Society. Dennis belongs to over 14 orchid societies and tries to assist them whenever possible.

Dinner with the Speaker

Members of DVOS are invited to a no-host, pre-meeting dinner with our guest speaker, Dennis Olivas. We will meet for dinner at 5pm on Thursday, May 8th at:

Yan’s Garden,  2223 Morello Ave.  Pleasant Hill, CA

This restaurant is a 10-minute drive from the meeting venue. If you wish to attend, please RSVP to dvosshowandtell@gmail.com by 5PM Wednesday, May 7th so we can make reservations.

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