November 2018 – Phyllis Prestia

Phyllis Prestia

We are delighted to have one of our own longtime members, Phyllis Prestia, speak at our November meeting. She will talk on ‘Wild Orchids of France’ and her educational presentation will highlight her trip through the woods, meadows, and spectacular gorges of France in search of the spectacular and often elusive native terrestrial orchids. Having trekked extensively in France over the last five years, Phyllis will present several genera through photos taken in situ of the habitats where they grow and are being conserved in the wild. Both species and natural hybrids will be included. The beauty of the landscapes and these gorgeous orchids will be memorable. The November plant table will be provided by one of our local orchid growers and Phyllis will be selling some of her own orchids at the break.

Phyllis S. Prestia is an orchid enthusiast, collector, and grower. Her latest passion is the native orchids of Europe. She has traveled extensively in France collecting photographs and sharing conservation efforts with local French orchid societies. She is also an avid supporter of the World Orchid Conferences. In conjunction with the WOC’s, she has trekked the rainforests of Madagascar and the islands of the Galapagos. Back home in California she grows these extraordinary orchids, which are presently getting ready to bloom. 

In her orchid life, she is an Assistant Editor of Orchid Digest magazine and serves as Trustee for the American Orchid Society. She has been the President of the San Diego County Cymbidium Society and is the current President of the Cymbidium Society of America. Further, she is an Accredited Judge for the Cymbidium Society of America and an Associate Judge for the American Orchid Society. 

In addition to her dissertation, her publications include "Best Practices in Culture of Catasetum, Clowesia, Cycnoches, Mormodes and Their Hybrids," Orchid Digest Vol. 80, no.4., "The First World Slipper Orchid Conference," Orchid Digest Vol. 79, No.2., “Growing Austrailian Dendrobiums: An Interview with Fred Clarke,” and “Crazy for Catts.- Red Hot Heatwave: New Cattleya Breeding at Sunset Valley Orchids,” Orchid Digest, Vol. 82, No.3.

In a previous life, she served children as an educator and Middle School Principal. She received a Doctorate of Education at Rutgers University, where she also served as instructor in the graduate education program. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to California with her husband to retire in the sunny, San Diego area and grow orchids.