July 2 Meeting
Stephen Van Kampen-Lewis Talks About Orchids in Brazil
Join us on Thursday, July 2, at 7:30pm at First Christian Church for an in-person presentation by Stephen Van Kampen-Lewis. Stephen will give a presentation about his recent orchid hunting trip in Brazil with Francisco Miranda of Miranda Orchids.
Stephen’s recent articles—Cattleya Hunting in Brazil: Parts 1 and 2—appeared in the AOS Orchids magazine. He also hosts YouTube channel where he discusses how to grow Cattleyas and Catasetinae (@SVKLOrchids). In addition to being a published author in Orchids and YouTube contributor, Stephen is a fully Accredited Orchid Judge for the American Orchid Society and serves as Judging Chair for the Alamo Judging Center.
The meeting begins at 7:30pm at First Christian Church, 1601 Sunset Boulevard, Houston.
If you haven’t already ordered your official Houston Orchid Society name badge, you can now order yours online.
About Stephen
Stephen began growing orchids in 1992 at the age of 12 and has cultivated them in a wide range of climates, including Canada, Arizona, Hawaii, and Texas. A longtime member of the American Orchid Society, he is now a fully accredited AOS judge at the Alamo Judging Center where he servess as judging chair. Over the years, Stephen has served the Heart of Texas Orchid Society in several leadership roles, including president, vice president of programs and speaker recruitment, and vice president of social media.
Stephen is the author of several articles published in Orchids magazine, including Rhyncholaelia digbyana—The Frilled Wonder and Cattleya Hunting in Brazil. He also shares his experience through his YouTube channel, where he offers practical advice and growing techniques for Cattleyas, Catasetinae, and other orchid genera in the challenging central Texas climate.
While his primary passion is growing Cattleyas and Catasetinae, Stephen also maintains Bulbophyllums, Cyrtopodiums, and other genera. He grows most of his orchids outdoors in a shade house, supplemented by an IKEA cabinet growing setup at his home near Boerne, Texas.