On a quiet street in Linwood sits the unassuming greenhouses of Waldor Orchids, a hidden gem of South Jersey. Those in the know realize that once you walk through the door of this generations-old family-run business, you have entered into the mecca of award-winning orchids, a place bustling with activity—and amazing flowers that will leave you speechless. Third-generation orchid grower David Off is not speechless, however, when it comes to orchids. Once he starts talking, his passion for his beloved orchids shines through, and it’s hard to keep up with his unending knowledge of his craft. Lately, Off has been busy among the cattleyas working on the latest display for the upcoming Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Philadelphia Flower Show, “Rooted: Origins of American Gardening”. Off envisions an exhibit of moss-covered stone ruins that have lasted throughout time, complete with the sounds and vision of water trickling down from this romantic-gothic dream.
Mr. Off is no stranger to the Philadelphia Flower Show. He grew up watching his grandfather, father, and uncles preparing for the show as a young boy, and he has been helping with exhibits since he was 14 years old. The Off family has been displaying at the Philadelphia Flower Show since 1933. For this year’s show, Off pictures the stone ruins to be symbolic of their time-tested business. Though Mr. Off plans to update some parts of the original building, other facets of the business have long roots that have improved with age and harken back to their historic beginnings. While Waldor Orchids has planned on updating certain features of their business such as installing a new heating system, the deep wealth of knowledge and growing techniques of the family of orchid breeders has stood the test of time. For this year’s exhibit, Off plans to install a 13-foot pond and aqueduct among the “ancient stone ruins” using moody shades of grays and greens, with the orchids providing pops of color. Off always seeks to add depth to his displays, looking to create an immersive experience for visitors to the show, as they will at first peer through the falling water before taking in the entire scene. At the center of the display, Off is planning to create a cork tree using the same sassafras branches that his grandfather, George A. Off, used. Orchids will be attached to the tree and branches as they would be growing in their natural habitat. Another feature will be a dazzling orchid, Laelia Santa Barbara Sunset ‘Showtime’. We look forward to seeing Off’s vision come to life.
The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is in its 197th year, with boasting rights as the nation’s largest and the world’s longest-running horticultural event, featuring displays by some of the world’s premier floral and landscape designers. According to the show’s planners, this year’s theme: Rooted: Origins of American Gardening “honors the people, places, and traditions that have shaped gardening in the United States, inviting visitors to explore how personal stories, culture, and creativity are deeply connected through plants.” This year’s show will run from February 28 through March 8, and will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
We are proud to have Waldor Orchids represent South Jersey, as they have been winning awards at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show since 1940, and we wish them all the best at this year’s show.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
