NASHUA – One of New Hampshire’s most popular winter attractions is returning to Nashua – just days after spring arrives.

It’s the New Hampshire Orchid Society’s annual show and sale, held this year roughly a month earlier than in the past.

The show, “A Bounty of Orchids,” gives attendees a unique opportunity to enjoy an unprecedented variety of rare and exotic orchid cultivars on display and for sale by hobbyists and professionals from across the United States and across the world.

(See accompanying information box for dates, times and other details).

From cool to tropical species, hundreds of colorful exhibits will grace the show from orchid societies in New England.

A distinguished panel of judges from the NH Orchid Society as well as the American Orchid Society will award honors in multiple categories.

Among them is Manchester resident Jean Stefanik, a lifetime member of the NH Orchid Society and accredited American Orchid Society judge with over 10 years of training and numerous national and international shows to her credit.

An experienced naturalist and educator, Stefanik’s passion for orchid conservation in the wild has led to extensive travel in such far-flung destinations as Costa Rica, Ecuador, New Zealand, and Australia as well as many areas of North America where rare species of native orchids struggle to survive in an era of endangered habitat.

She is a frequent speaker at garden and orchid clubs, sharing both the beauty of one of nature’s most photographed subjects and the importance of protecting biodiversity.

Both novice and serious hobbyists will want to take advantage of the many scheduled tours and educational programs presented throughout the weekend by society members, who will speak on such subjects as repotting and dividing orchids, orchid culture and habitat, and others.

Like Stefanik, George Newman of Bedford, also a lifelong member of the NH Orchid Society, developed a love for exotic plants in childhood.

“I grew up half a mile from New York Botanical Gardens,” the retired pathologist said. “I could have just as easily walked to the Bronx Zoo and collected snakes, so my mother was very happy with my interest of choice.”

Today, Newmanís greenhouse is home to 400-500 orchids and carnivorous plants ranging in size from barely distinguishable to too-heavy-to-lift. He prefers raising cool-growing orchids – those common to cloud forest environments, thriving in temperatures between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit by day and 50-55 degrees at night.

For New Hampshire residents, those requirements make greenhouses indispensable.

“Having a greenhouse is like having a baby,” Newman deadpans as he explains sophisticated temperature monitors and humidity timers, water filtration systems, and how dependent the health and vitality of his plant collection is on maintaining a problem-free system.

“Going away even for a few days is a pain in the neck, but I have close friends I have trained and trust to help when Iím gone.”

Otherwise, Newman is happiest tending to his legions of plants both native and non. With encyclopedic recall, he shares that New Hampshire boasts over 40 native varieties of orchids; the most celebrated among them, the Pink Lady Slipper.

“Right here in Bedford, we have 10 native species, but they are fast disappearing from habitat loss in the face of continuing development,” Newman said.

That Pink Lady Slippers are famous for blooming in their own time, Newman is cautiously optimistic about the selection of orchids heíll submit for judging at this yearís show.

As members of the society’s Conservation and Education Committee, both Newman and Stefanik are strong advocates of conservation projects and grants.

Contributor Carolyn R. Choate provided the material for this article.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.