For more than half a century, the Sarasota Orchid Society has been feeding our apparently insatiable appetite for orchids with an annual show presenting thousands of the colorful, fragrant and highly diverse blooms (25,000 species or so) in knock-your-eyes-out displays. This month, the 58th such celebration of the family Orchidaceae takes place Jan. 3 and 4 at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium; admission is $5 for the show, themed “A Symphony of Orchids.” All plants and displays are judged according to criteria set by the American Orchid Society, and visitors get to interact with growers, attend educational seminars, and, of course, purchase some beauties to take home. For more information: sarasotaorchidsociety.org

Click here for tips on how to care for your own orchids from Selby Gardens greenhouse manager Angel Lara. >>