Linda Taylor    St. Aug native Linda Taylor married high school sweetheart Jim and they traveled internationally before returning to St. Aug in 1992.  Linda was a free lance writer while raising their three children.  A former member of Shamrock Garden Club, she enjoys container gardening.  She is fond of mini catts and fragrant orchids and is looking for Epidendrum radicans to plant in large pots on her front patio! (Dec 09)

Wendy Thomas Wendy and husband Richard are true Floridians, living in St. Augustine with their 2 sons. She is a surgical operating room nurse at Flagler Hospital, having received her RN degree at FSU. Richard gave her first orchid, a yellow oncidium, 22 years ago. She dabbled in orchid growing until joining the SAOS in 2009, her collection has since grown to nearly 40 orchids. Wendy's collection is spread around the house and garage during the cold weather, but is moved under the oak trees in the yard during warm weather. Wendy is a woman of many talents; she scuba dives, sews, knits, scrapbooks, juggles, fishes and does crafts. (Apr 10)

Daisy Thompson     Daisy Thompson usually has a phalaenopsis blossom in her hair. Daisy was as an executive secretary by day though evenings found her singing on WFOY radio or in a cabaret. She and husband Pierre, St. Aug natives, are involved in many community activities and Daisy is a Master Gardener, Master Flower Show Judge and Begonia Judge. Daisy grows about 50 or 60 orchids in her house with a 4’ x 6’ greenhouse to handle overflow. The Thompsons do a lot of world travel and U.S. travel in their RV. (Jan 09)

Harriet Wright     Harriet Wright got her first orchid at 5, an Encyclia tampensis, and she’s had a passion for orchids and flowers ever since. She has been an accredited AOS judge since 1987. She and husband Mike live in Jax where they tend their collection of 2000 or so orchids in a 24' x 45' greenhouse. Harriet has grown them all and likes those that present a new challenge. She has eclectic tastes enjoying her antique mall booths. She willingly shares her extensive knowledge and is a true gift to the SAOS. (Aug 08)

Michael Wright     Mike Wright got orchid fever growing up in southern California where his first orchid was a Cym. lowianum. He is now a probationary AOS judge. He settled in Jax in 1997 where he works at BCBS testing software. He and wife Harriet grow a full range of orchids including his favorites like Catasetums, Erias, Aerides, Bulbophyllums and miniatures. Mike has a degree in music, the bassoon being his instrument of choice, and also enjoys jazz. (Aug 08)

Maria Yessian     Maria Yessian was born in Havana, Cuba and came to the US knowing no English in 1961. She worked her way through night school before meeting husband Richard and raising their family in Fairfax, VA. They retired to Florida in 1998. She got most of her plants from the SAOS raffle table and grows them in the covered pool lanai. Besides gardening and orchids, Maria loves cooking, computer games and mind puzzles. (Aug 09)