atlantaorchidsociety.org

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.

Membership in the Atlanta Orchid Society (AtlOS) is open to anyone interested in orchids, whether you are a novice or an experienced grower. To join, use the "Membership" link on atlantaorchidsociety.org and sign up there. Once a member, you can take part in discussions, hold office, offer suggestions, and bring blooming orchids to monthly meetings for show, discussion, or the ribbon judging.

What You Are Joining

AtlOS was formed in 1947 as a non-profit organization where people learn about orchids, share knowledge and experience, and promote their love of orchids. It is one of roughly 550 local societies affiliated with the American Orchid Society.

The society describes itself as a dedicated group of individuals enthusiastic about orchids and eager to share what they know. The site states plainly that membership is open to anyone interested in orchids and that "there are others who share your interest."

How to Sign Up

1. Go to atlantaorchidsociety.org.
2. Select "Membership" in the site navigation.
3. Complete the sign-up there.

The site does not publish dues amounts or payment methods on the pages reviewed, so check the Membership page for current details before you commit.

What Members Can Do

• Participate in discussion at meetings and contribute suggestions.
• Hold office in the society.
• Bring blooming orchids of many types for show, discussion, or questions.
• Take part in the monthly ribbon judging.
• Hear guest speakers who present on some aspect of orchids and their culture. Speakers come from across the United States and beyond and often bring plants to sell, including unusual and hard-to-find varieties.

Meetings and Show Dates

Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, usually at 7:30pm at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The society advises checking the newsletter to confirm each month's details.

Upcoming events listed on the site:

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. The annual auction is the society's second-largest fundraising event of the year and a chance to add orchids to your collection while supporting AtlOS.

A Practical Note

If you want to see how the society fits your interests before joining, visitors are explicitly welcome at meetings. Attending one meeting lets you observe the show table, ribbon judging, and speaker program first, then decide whether to sign up through the Membership page.

The Atlanta Orchid Society's next Orchid Show & Sale is scheduled for March 12–14, 2027, at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The society's website lists those dates and the venue, and points visitors to a details page for the event. The site does not publish show hours, admission prices, or ticket information, so check the event details page or the society's newsletter closer to the date before planning your visit.

What the Show Is

The Orchid Show & Sale is the society's public showcase and sales event, distinct from its monthly meetings and its annual auction. It is held at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, which also hosts the society's regular monthly meetings.

Other Dates Worth Knowing

If you are planning around the society's calendar, two other events appear on the site:

The auction is described as the society's second-largest fundraising event of the year and is open to anyone who wants to bid on orchids.

Before You Go

• Confirm the details. The site advises checking the newsletter for each month's specifics, and the show listing itself directs readers to a details page. Hours and any entry requirements are not stated on the page reviewed here.
• Check the venue's own rules. Because the show is at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, garden admission or event policies may apply; the society's page does not say either way.
• Membership is separate. Joining the society is open to anyone interested in orchids, novice or experienced, but membership is not presented as a requirement for attending the show.

Background on the Society

The Atlanta Orchid Society was formed in 1947 as a non-profit organization for people to learn about orchids, share knowledge, and promote interest in them. It is one of roughly 550 local societies affiliated with the American Orchid Society. Members meet on the second Monday of most months, usually at 7:30 PM at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and typically hear a guest speaker, view blooming plants brought in by members, and take part in monthly ribbon judging.

The Atlanta Orchid Society (AtlOS) is a non-profit orchid society founded in 1947, open to anyone interested in orchids—from complete novices to experienced growers. It is one of roughly 550 local societies affiliated with the American Orchid Society (AOS), and it meets monthly in Atlanta, hosts guest speakers, and runs an orchid show and an annual auction. If you are looking for a local group to learn about orchid culture, show plants, or meet other growers, this is the organization to start with.

Who it is for and what membership means

Membership is open to anyone interested in orchids, and the society explicitly frames itself as a place where novices and experienced growers learn from one another. Members are encouraged to participate in discussion, hold offices, and offer suggestions. The site does not list dues or a sign-up form on the page; it only provides a "Sign up for membership" link, so check that page for current terms before assuming cost or process.

Monthly meetings

• When: the second Monday of each month, usually at 7:30pm.
• Where: usually the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
• Confirm first: the society advises checking the newsletter to confirm each month's details, since location or timing can vary.
• What happens: members bring blooming orchids for show, discussion, or questions, and there is a monthly ribbon judging. Most months feature a guest speaker on some aspect of orchids and their culture. Speakers come from across the United States and beyond and often bring plants to sell, including unusual and hard-to-find varieties.
• Visitors: welcome.

One example from the calendar: the November 9 meeting features Scott Elliott presenting a program on the Catasetinae, covering the group's dramatic flowers, pollination biology, and seasonal growth cycle.

Events beyond the monthly meeting

The auction is described as a way to add orchids to your collection while supporting the society; bring friends and come prepared to bid. The show runs three days in March 2027.

Other resources on the site

The site's navigation points to sections on orchid culture, retail sources, a calendar, email groups, newsletter archives, articles, AOS awards, and AOS judging by the Atlanta Judging Center. These are the places to look for growing guidance, local vendors, and past newsletter content.

How to get involved

1. Check the newsletter or calendar to confirm the next meeting's time and place.
2. Attend a monthly meeting as a visitor—visitors are explicitly welcome.
3. Bring a blooming orchid if you have one, for show, discussion, or ribbon judging.
4. Use the membership sign-up link when you are ready to join; confirm current dues and process there.

The main practical caution: meeting details can change month to month, so verify before traveling to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

The Atlanta Orchid Society (AtlOS) Annual Orchid Auction is the Society's second-largest fundraising event of the year, where attendees bid on orchids to add to their collections while supporting the organization. The 2026 auction is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, starting at 1:00 PM at Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church, 3016 Lanier Dr NE, Brookhaven, GA 30319, running until 4:30 PM. It is open to anyone interested in orchids, and the Society encourages members to bring friends who share the interest.

Key Details at a Glance

Why the Auction Matters to the Society

AtlOS was formed in 1947 as a non-profit organization dedicated to learning about orchids, sharing knowledge and experience, and promoting appreciation of orchids. It is one of roughly 550 local societies affiliated with the American Orchid Society. Fundraising events like the auction support that mission, and the auction is described as one of the Society's most enjoyable events of the year — a combination of social gathering, plant acquisition opportunity, and financial support for the organization.

How to Prepare

The Society's own guidance for the auction is straightforward:

• Mark your calendar for November 7, 2026.
• Invite orchid-loving friends — the event is presented as a shared experience, and newcomers are welcome across AtlOS activities.
• Come prepared to bid — the auction is a bidding event, so plan to participate actively if you want to take home plants.

Because the auction is a fundraiser, the plants on offer are the draw and the bidding is the mechanism; the page does not list a catalog, starting bids, or registration requirements, so those specifics would need to be confirmed closer to the date through the Society's newsletter or event pages.

Fitting It Into the AtlOS Calendar

The auction is one of several recurring AtlOS activities. The Society meets the second Monday of each month, usually at 7:30 PM at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, with members bringing blooming orchids for display, discussion, and monthly ribbon judging, plus guest speakers from around the United States and beyond who often bring plants to sell. The Society's next Orchid Show & Sale is scheduled for March 12–14, 2027, at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. For anyone deciding whether the auction is worth attending, the practical answer is: if you want to acquire orchids, support a longstanding local society, and meet other growers in the Atlanta area, the November 7 auction is the date to hold.