Nicholas Rust is the guest speaker in September.

Terrestrials with Nicholas Rust

Our September meeting will feature guest speaker Nicholas Rust, owner-operator of RustyExotics Orchids. Nicholas will have plants for sale before and after the presentation.

Bio

Nicholas Rust is an up-and-coming hybridizer in the orchid community. His orchid passion began in 2015 when a mini-Phalaenopsis was gifted to him. Like a flame to gasoline, this gift quickly pulled him into the diverse world of orchids. Shortly after his interests were formed, he began exploring the culture of several unique genera of terrestrial orchids. He now specializes in Habenaria and other related genera, jewel orchids, Australian terrestrial orchids, and Bulbophyllum. In 2019, this obsession bloomed into a small orchid nursery, RustyExotics Orchids, which he uses to share the wonders and beauty of his work.

Through studying biochemistry and molecular biology during college, Nicholas approaches his orchids with the same scientific perspective he uses while working in a research lab. This led to an interest in the entire growth cycle of orchids and the start of his own hybridization program in 2018 which focuses mostly on terrestrial orchids, especially Habenaria. His aim is to use rarely cultivated species and distinct variations of species to create truly exceptional shapes and colors that will pave new directions for unique hybrids.

Agenda

11:00 am Meet and Greet, Pullman Room

11:15-11:45 Mentors’ Circle breakout discussion, Pullman Room

11:55 am Please have your plants and tags on the display tables for judging

12:05 pm Plant judging starts

Cast your vote for People’s Choice

12:30 pm Short business meeting for all members, Alsdorf Auditorium

1:00 pm “Terrestrials” with Nick Rust

2:30 pm Meeting adjourns

Please note: Recording of Illinois Orchid Society meetings, presentations, or speakers is prohibited.