When and Where Does the Atlanta Orchid Society Meet?

The Atlanta Orchid Society (AtlOS) usually meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 pm at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The schedule can vary, so check the current newsletter before you go. Visitors are welcome, so you do not need to be a member to attend a meeting.

Meeting Details at a Glance

What Happens at a Meeting

Meetings are more than a business session. Members bring blooming orchids for display, discussion, and questions, and there is a monthly ribbon judging. Most months feature a guest speaker covering some aspect of orchid growing and culture. Speakers come from across the United States and beyond and often bring plants to sell, including unusual and hard-to-find varieties.

For example, the November 9 meeting features Scott Elliott presenting a program on the Catasetinae, a group known for dramatic flowers, unusual pollination biology, and a seasonal growth cycle. That gives you a sense of the programming: a focused topic, a knowledgeable speaker, and a chance to see and discuss plants with other growers.

Before You Go

• Confirm the date and location. The society states that meetings are usually on the second Monday at 7:30 pm at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and directs members to the newsletter to confirm each month's details. Treat the pattern as the default, not a guarantee.
• Check the events calendar. The site lists upcoming events such as the monthly meeting and the Annual Orchid Auction, which is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church in Brookhaven. Special events like this replace or supplement the regular meeting schedule.
• Bring questions, not necessarily plants. Visitors are welcome to simply attend and learn. If you grow orchids, bringing a blooming plant for show or discussion is part of the meeting culture.

Who Should Attend

Membership is open to anyone interested in orchids, whether you are a novice or an experienced grower. The society was formed in 1947 as a nonprofit and is one of roughly 550 local societies affiliated with the American Orchid Society. If you are deciding whether to go, the monthly meeting is the lowest-commitment way to see how the group operates before joining.

For the current month's speaker, topic, and any location change, use the newsletter or calendar linked from the society's website rather than relying on the general pattern alone.