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Tickets

Cattleya Orchid Symposium

Event
Cattleya Symposium

Nov. 8, 2025, 10:30 a.m.—7 p.m.

Public: $125; Members: $99 | Dinner and wine are included.

Ahmanson Classroom

Tickets
Join us for a series of four engaging lectures by leading experts on the cultivation, conservation, and research practices of the Cattleya Alliance.
Gardens
Conferences

KEY DETAILS

  • Unique orchids available for purchase from vendors
  • Evening social with dinner and wine included in the program’s cost

SPEAKERS

Pepe Portilla

Pepe Portilla

Wild Cattleyas of Ecuador

Pepe Portilla, founder and president of Ecuagenera in Ecuador, leads one of South America’s largest orchid nurseries. Renowned for both rare species and hybrids, he combines business expertise with a passion for conservation. A dedicated explorer and researcher, he champions in situ and ex situ preservation of Ecuador’s orchid diversity.

Fred Clarke

Fred Clarke

Spotted and Splashed Cattleyas

Fred Clarke, founder of Sunset Valley Orchids in San Diego, is a renowned hybridizer with 50+ years of experience. His pioneering Catasetum breeding produced the famed Fredclarkeara After Dark, “the blackest orchid,” earning 100+ awards. An AOS Judge and international speaker, he advances orchid breeding, conservation, and education worldwide.

Arthur Chadwick

Arthur Chadwick

First Ladies and their Orchids: A Century of Namesake Cattleyas

Art Chadwick, founder of Chadwick & Son Orchids, is author of The Classic Cattleyas and First Ladies and their Orchids. A noted speaker at World Orchid Conferences and columnist for 20 years, he has named cattleya hybrids for U.S. First Ladies and earned international recognition for his orchid displays.

Arthur Chadwick

David Toyoshima

Classic Heirloom Cattleyas

David Toyoshima has been passionate about cattleyas for over 40 years, inspired early by mentor Ernest Hetherington at Stewart Orchids. A longtime AOS member and former trustee, he now teaches advertising and graphic design at Cal State Long Beach while continuing his love for classic heirloom cattleyas.