Joe Liggio To Discuss Texas’ Wild Orchids at March 3 Meeting

We are excited to be meeting in person again in March, although Zoom will still be available for members who are unable to attend. Our speaker for March is author Joe Liggio.

Joe has been studying and photographing wild orchids for 40 years. His photographs and articles about Texas orchids and wildflowers have appeared in books, magazines and calendars, and he and his wife, Ann Orto Liggio, authored the book Wild Orchids of Texas. This beautifully illustrated book presents all 54 wild orchids of Texas.

The species descriptions that accompany Joe Liggio’s lovely color photos discuss the plant’s flowers, blooming season, pollinators, typical habitats and range, including its distribution within and beyond Texas. The species are grouped by genus and also listed by color, county, and habitat for easy reference. The wide variety of information contained in Wild Orchids of Texas makes this book the essential guide to Texas’ wild orchids. This book received Best of Show and Award of Distinguished Technical Communication in the 2000 International Publications Competition.

Of the 54 species of wild orchids found in Texas, the majority—36 species—are found in the moist woodlands of East Texas. Joe will speak about the orchids in the Big Thicket National Preserve of East Texas at our March 3 meeting at 7:30pm. As a follow-up in April, Joe will lead a guided tour for HOS members at the Big Thicket National Preserve to see the orchids in person.