Orchid Collecting in the Modern Age: Meeting the Needs of Our Audience as a Botanical Garden

Thursday, February 1, 2024
Reception and Exhibition Viewing 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Lecture at 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

In the 1800s, orchids symbolized status among royalty. Orchids were exclusive to the wealthy, who sponsored botanists and orchid hunters on expeditions to obtain them from the wild. Today, advancements in technology and extensive research have democratized access to orchids. This has made them affordable for the general public, enthusiasts, and researchers alike. Botanical gardens play a pivotal role in enhancing accessibility to these exquisite plants. This discussion aims to explore the significance of botanical gardens collecting orchids. Explore how the evolving needs of our audience, and the current events and issues will shape the strategies for orchid collection in today’s world.

Speaker: Brandon Tam, Associate Curator of the Orchid Collection at The Huntington
Fee: Free. Reservations and walk-ins are welcome.

About the Speaker
As the Associate Curator of the Orchid Collection at The Huntington, Brandon curates one of the largest and most diverse orchid species collections in the world, including over 1,500 unique species and 3,600 different varieties across 280 orchid genera. Under Brandon’s stewardship, The Huntington has won over 100 awards from the American Orchid Society, including six First Class Certificates and four Certificates of Cultural Excellence. Brandon started as the Orchid Collection Specialist at The Huntington at age 16 while concurrently earning his bachelor’s degree in plant science from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, which he completed in 2015. Brandon holds accreditation as a judge from the American Orchid Society and is a frequent contributing author to the American Orchid Society, Orchid Digest, and Cymbidium Society of America, and has presented with over 50 national and international orchid organizations.