<b>VERO BEACH, FL </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">McKee Botanical Garden, in partnership with the Vero Beach Orchid Society, is pleased to announce the </span><b>Second Annual Rare & Exotic Orchid Exhibition & Sale</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, taking place on </span><b>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</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">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 </span><b>American Orchid Society Awards. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first for its </span><b><i>Cattleya measuresiana </i></b><b>'McKee Botanical Garden' </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">earning an </span><b>Award of Merit (AM)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 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 </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cattleya aclandiae </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cattleya walkeriana</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, bears the clonal name </span><b>'McKee Botanical Garden,' </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">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. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">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. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The event will showcase Florida craft artisans and acclaimed orchid growers, including </span><b>Krull Smith, Odom's Orchids, Francisco Miranda Orchids, Quest Orchids, and Mac Orchids</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, offering visitors an exceptional opportunity to explore and purchase rare and unusual orchids while enjoying McKee's award-winning tropical landscape. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">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 </span><b>Vero Beach Orchid Society </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">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. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Orchids have been woven into McKee Botanical Garden's story since the 1930s, when co-founder </span><b>Arthur McKee </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">assembled one of the nation's largest private orchid collections and, in 1946, enlisted renowned orchid expert </span><b>Dr. David Fairburn </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">to oversee its care. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">As McKee Botanical Garden celebrates the </span><b>25th anniversary of its reopening</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, that legacy continues with a living collection of more than </span><b>2,000 orchids </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">representing rare, historic, and native species. The recent </span><b>American Orchid Society Award </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">serves as another testament to the Garden's continued commitment to horticultural excellence and the enduring legacy of its orchid collection. </span>