The ancient philosopher Confucius once told his disciples: “The orchids grow in the deep valleys, even though no one is there to admire them. They release their fragrant smell even though no one may be there to appreciate it. No matter what happens, they act like righteous men, strong and noble.” Throughout history, orchids have symbolized patience, beauty, and culture, and at the Deep South Orchid Society’s annual Orchid Fest this past March, it was easy to see why this ancient flower continues to inspire such devotion.

“It’s a fascinating hobby,” says Jenni Brodie, president of the society, “and once you get started, it can become a little addictive. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I have almost a thousand of them, and no two are alike.”

Orchids, she explains, are endlessly varied. Some bloom for only a few hours (making pollination a challenge); others hold their blossoms for weeks. Some species are hardy, while others are delicate and temperamental. Some plants never reach that first bloom, while others can live for a century. Some are sweetly fragrant; others smell decidedly unpleasant. Some attract butterflies, others moths.

“Keeping your plant alive and coaxing out that first bloom can almost become an obsession,” Brodie says with a laugh. “You can see why it takes a special person to grow orchids.”

The Deep South Orchid Society got its start in 1981 when six Lowcountry women who shared a love of orchids—and the challenge of cultivating them—met for lunch at the Greenhouse restaurant on Savannah’s Mall Blvd. By the end of that first year, membership had grown—to 11. The group began attending and entering orchid shows throughout the South while actively seeking out other enthusiasts who might want to join their ranks.

In those early years, the society received guidance from Leora Hewlett of Beaufort, a recognized orchid expert and judge with the American Orchid Society (AOS). Hewlett advised the group that if they were serious about growing their membership, attending—and eventually hosting—shows would be one of the best ways to attract new members.

With equal parts trepidation and enthusiasm, the group planned its first show in the spring of 1982. Titled “An April Shower of Orchids,” the event was held in the lobby of the Hyatt hotel in Savannah. According to a history written by one of the founding members, the women even took turns sleeping on the lobby couches overnight for security, since the space remained open to the public.

The effort paid off. By 1983 the society had grown to 70 members, hosted its first American Orchid Society–sanctioned show, and even launched its own newsletter.

Through the 1980s, ’90s, and early 2000s, the society continued hosting shows at venues across Savannah, Jacksonville, and Hilton Head Island. The events regularly drew crowds and frequently earned awards. But over time, as the members grew older, the physical demands of staging large shows began to take their toll—packing and transporting delicate orchids, setting up elaborate displays, staffing booths, and dismantling everything a day or two later. “We decided this year just to do a smaller show,” Brodie says, “but we do still attend shows in Jacksonville, Atlanta, and South Carolina.”

And where does the Deep South Orchid Society go from here?

“That’s a good question,” Brodie says. “We still have around 90 members and a number of us still travel from across the Lowcountry—Statesboro, Savannah, Darien, and Bluffton—to attend meetings and share our passion, but many of our members are now in their seventies and our oldest member is 94. And while I certainly wouldn’t say that growing orchids is a dying art, there do seem to be fewer young people getting involved. There are so many other distractions today, and the truth is that growing orchids does not exactly provide what you’d call ‘instant gratification’.”

For some species, she notes, it can take seven years—or longer—for a tiny seedling to produce its first bloom.

“That’s years spent tending the roots, the stems, and the leaves,” she says. “And all that time, you never really know if you’ll get the reward. But when it finally blooms, it is absolutely worth the effort and the wait.”

Today the Deep South Orchid Society continues to meet monthly at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah, where members focus on education and conservation related to both cultivated and native orchids. And while the group may not be as active as it once was, its enthusiasm remains undiminished.

“This year’s show wasn’t large enough to attract commercial vendors or AOS judges,” Brodie says. “This year it was really just about the love of doing it. We had a few classes, some speakers, a Q&A session, and of course our beautiful flowers.”

Like the plants they cultivate, orchid growers tend to be patient people, and for most of the society’s members, that patience extends to hoping a new generation of growers will discover the same quiet fascination that first drew them to orchids decades ago.

“As our membership continues to age we may not be able to do all the things we once did,” Brodie says. “But we’d love to bring some younger members on board and pass along the joy, knowledge, and traditions of this unique society—and avocation. Anyone who’s interested in learning more about orchids should stop by one of our meetings. We meet every second Sunday of the month at the Botanical Gardens.”

Members of the public who are interested in seeing the society’s orchids, she adds, are also welcome to visit the greenhouse at the Gardens on Canebrake Road.