Patti and husband Ty established their first orchid business in 1997 to support their orchid addiction. They operated Cold Mountain Orchids in the mountains of North Carolina.

The greenhouse was located at an altitude of 4,200 feet and it was indeed cold! When an offer to leave the cold for the warmth of Newberry, South Carolina and an opportunity to work for Carter and Holmes they jumped on it.

Patti and Ty reduced their collection to around 1,000 orchids and made the move. Patti handled the wholesale accounts for 7 cities, did miniature hybridizing, took care of several greenhouses, and joined the AOS student judging program in Atlanta.

The Wilsons also represented Carter and Holmes at orchid shows on the east coast. Ty received an offer to come to Homestead and work for Kerry's Bromeliads. They with the blessings of the "family" at Carter and Holmes once again packed- up for a move to sunny Florida.

Patti called Susana Miller of Miller's Tropicals to see if she could help in the lab and so it went. Patti works in the lab most of the time flasking orchids, but still gets to do hybridizing and other things including pursuing her student judging at the West Palm Beach judging center.

She also works for Matt Godlove of Godlove and Son/ Palm Bay Orchids hybridizing and represents him at orchid shows.

Patti will be selling a variety of orchids at the meeting. She is sure to interest you in some beautiful new cattleyas for your home.

We hope to see many of our members and new guests there!