I began growing orchids in 1972 in a basement grow room. I started with one shelf and one 4 foot 4 bulb fluorescent light setup. This grow room soon expanded into many shelves with grow lights over the tops of benches and shelves that housed phalaenopsis, miltoniopsis, cattleyas and many species of orchids. I joined the Illowa Orchid Society in 1972 and met many other folks with a growing interest in orchids and orchid shows. Orchid societies are wonderful for gathering cultural information and meeting lots of other folks with a similar interest. I am a member of the American Orchid Society, Illowa Orchid Society and the Eastern Orchid Society. I have won 31 American Orchid Society awards for culture and flower quality and also AOS awards for displays at orchid shows.
I did my undergraduate work at Augustana College and earned a master’s degree in education from Western Illinois University. My career was in education…teaching many grade levels and finishing the last 13 years of teaching with fifth graders. I retired in 2000.
I am also a botanical illustrator with a membership in the American Society of Botanical Artists. My paintings are of orchids exclusively. I have had shows at the Chicago Botanical Center, the Clinton Art League, the Quad City Botanical Center and the Fairchild Botanical Center in Florida and also many displays at orchid shows. I maintain a Facebook page entitled A Brush With Orchids. All of my paintings are for sale.
Marcia Whitmore
A Brush With Orchids https://www.facebook.com/orchidpainter/