VERO BEACH, FL McKee Botanical Garden, in partnership with the Vero Beach Orchid Society, is pleased to announce the Second Annual Rare & Exotic Orchid Exhibition & Sale, taking place on Saturday, September 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, September 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This year’s exhibition comes on the heels of a milestone achievement for McKee Botanical Garden. In June and July 2026, the Garden has received four American Orchid Society Awards. The first for its Cattleya measuresiana ‘McKee Botanical Garden’ earning an Award of Merit (AM), recognizing superior flower quality with a score of 80 points. Bestowed by the American Orchid Society, the Award of Merit is presented only to exceptional orchid species and hybrids scoring between 80 and 89 points on a 100-point scale. The awarded orchid, a hybrid of Cattleya aclandiae and Cattleya walkeriana, bears the clonal name ‘McKee Botanical Garden,’ honoring the Garden’s growing legacy of orchid cultivation and excellence. Three more awards were given in July, two Awards of Merit and one Highly Commended Certificate.
Building on the success of its inaugural year, this two-day celebration will feature an exhibition of exotic, historic, and rare orchids, a judged orchid show sanctioned by the American Orchid Society and Vero Beach Orchid Society, nationally recognized orchid growers, educational presentations, and a vibrant marketplace for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The event will showcase Florida craft artisans and acclaimed orchid growers, including Krull Smith, Odom’s Orchids, Francisco Miranda Orchids, Quest Orchids, and Mac Orchids, offering visitors an exceptional opportunity to explore and purchase rare and unusual orchids while enjoying McKee’s award-winning tropical landscape.
Guests will also enjoy engaging speakers, educational lectures, and a hands-on workshop throughout the weekend. Additional program details and speaker announcements will be released as the event approaches.
McKee Botanical Garden and Vero Beach Orchid Society members are invited to an exclusive preview of the exhibition and sale on Saturday, September 5, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Advance tickets are available at McKeeGarden.org. Founded in 1974, the Vero Beach Orchid Society has spent more than five decades fostering appreciation for orchids through education, conservation, and community. Its partnership with McKee Botanical Garden brings together two organizations with a shared commitment to preserving and celebrating these extraordinary plants.
Orchids have been woven into McKee Botanical Garden’s story since the 1930s, when co-founder Arthur McKee assembled one of the nation’s largest private orchid collections and, in 1946, enlisted renowned orchid expert Dr. David Fairburn to oversee its care.
As McKee Botanical Garden celebrates the 25th anniversary of its reopening, that legacy continues with a living collection of more than 2,000 orchids representing rare, historic, and native species. The recent American Orchid Society Award serves as another testament to the Garden’s continued commitment to horticultural excellence and the enduring legacy of its orchid collection.
