Orchid Chief, The

Get a taste of the tropics with a visit to these Virginia greenhouses.

A nodest wooden sign points the way to Chadwick & Son Orchids in Powhatan, Virginia, a rural town near Richmond. The arrow sends visitors down a long gravel driveway canopied with trees, depositing them at the side of a log cabin backed by a collection of squatty greenhouses covered with black netting.

First-timers approach the door marked "Enter" a bit timidly, not sure what they'll find inside. But when they push through, a tropical paradise awaits.

"People come out here just to get away from the cooler temperatures," Art Chadwick, Jr., admits cheerfully. "When you're in our greenhouses, you can almost imagine you're in Hawaii."

Cool-Weather Blooms

Once considered plants for hobbyists, orchids now rank among the most popular houseplants in America. That's a trend the Chadwicks use to their advantage. Their greenhouses offer a dazzling array of colorful orchids.

The most popular-and easiest to grow-is the long-blooming moth orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.). Peak season runs from January through May, making this a wonderful time to stop by. Visitors will also find the other major classes, including cattleya, the showy corsage orchid that Art, Sr., is renowned for breeding.

House Calls and Babysitting

In addition to selling orchids, the staff at Chadwick & Son help customers care for them too. For $2 a month, they will board your orchid until it blooms again. Customers can either pick them up or have them delivered once petals appear. "It's like summer camp for orchids," says Art.

All in the Family

Art, Jr., says his master plan never included growing orchids. He grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, where his father bred the tropical plants as a hobby. After receiving a degree in engineering and landing a job in Richmond, Art decided he wanted more.

When they decided on a joint venture, Art, Sr., refused to leave his home in Wilmington, and Art, Jr., was reluctant to sell his log cabin in Powhatan. So Art, Sr., breeds orchids and develops new types in Delaware, while Art, Jr., and his wife, Rebecca, grow and sell them to customers in the Richmond area and around the country via overnight delivery.

After 15 years, Art, Jr., recently expanded the business. In November, he opened a store in Richmond's Fan District ([804] 359-6724). Still, his big moment in the spotlight will come this month when he addresses the World Orchid Conference in Dijon, France. Art will discuss the future of cattleyas, his father's favorite orchid. CASSANDRA M. VANHOOSER

Chadwick & Son Orchids: 1240 Dorset Road, Powhatan, VA 23139; (804) 598-7560 or www.chadwick orchids.com.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Mar 2005
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