Events | Orchid Digest

The Huntington and Orchid Digest Present

2026 Cattleya Orchid Symposium

Featuring lectures by experts, orchid sales,

lunch, auction and Happy Hour .

Join us at The Huntington for the 2026 Cattleya Orchid Symposium—a must-attend event for orchid enthusiasts of all levels. This in-person gathering will feature leading experts sharing their knowledge on cultivation, conservation, and research within the Cattleya Alliance. Connect with fellow orchid lovers, discover the latest insights, and deepen your appreciation for these stunning blooms. Whether you’re an experienced grower or new to the hobby, you’ll find inspiration and practical takeaways. Mark your calendar for a day of beauty, learning, and community in the world of Cattleyas!

Saturday, November 14, 2026

10:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Speakers

Former genus Sophronitis, The Species, Hybrids and Cultivation

Peter T. Lin started growing orchids over 40 years ago, but then stopped due to school and starting a career. It wasn't until about 25 years ago that the orchid "bug" came back and he is now heavily involved once again! He is an accredited judge with the American Orchid Society, and a hybridizer of mini-catts. He enjoys meeting with other orchid enthusiasts, and can often be found at various orchid shows and societies around the country.

Due to limited growing space, Peter specializes in miniature orchids, both species and hybrids, and has received numerous AOS awards. His interests in orchids include Dendrobiums, Angraecoids, and Neofinetias. He is also known as "Mr Sophronitis" as he has a passion for growing and collecting them. He maintains a collection of several thousand orchids at his home in Southern California, in 3 small greenhouses, outdoors, and in an offsite greenhouse.

Growing Award Winning Cattleyas

Keith Davis was born in California but moved to Mexico with his missionary parents when eight years old. In 1974 he attended North Carolina State University where he obtained degrees in forestry, horticulture and agricultural education. After school, he moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where he taught horticulture and purchased his first orchid at a yard sale. It was Lc. Molly Tyler FCC which he still has to this day. After moving to Reidsville in 1984, Keith worked for North Carolina State University as the grounds and greenhouse superintendent at Chinqua-Penn Plantation and taught high school. In 1997, he and his wife Dixie adopted their only child, April. Keith then became a full-time stay-at-home dad but also continued part-time with Chinqua-Penn. In August of 2002, a disaster struck his orchid collection when the power went off at the greenhouse he was leasing. The temperature soared to over 140 degrees and about 90% of his large collection of mainly cattleya alliance orchids was lost. Thanks to many friends and the generosity of orchid growers all over, he is well on his way back to having a respectable collection again.

Diamonds in the Rough: The Orchids of Chapada Diamantina, Brazil

Ron Kaufmann is chair of the American Orchid Society Conservation Committee, chair of the San Diego County Orchid Society Conservation Committee, and a founding director and Secretary of the Orchid Conservation Alliance. He also serves on the board of the Orchid Digest. A marine biologist by training, Ron’s scientific work includes studies of Antarctic and deep-sea ecosystems as well as marine communities in coastal Southern California. He has a long-standing interest in conservation and has been a member of the AOS Conservation Committee since 2016 and chair since 2022. Ron began working on orchid conservation with the SDCOS Conservation Committee in the late 1990s and became chair in 2004. Since 1991, the SDCOS Conservation Committee has awarded over $334,000 to support projects in 26 different countries.