Orchid Books on eBay

Awhile back I developed a little obsession with hunting eBay for good deals on orchid books. I was able to find great deals on some helpful books to add to my small collection! Here’s what I ended up with:

300 Orchids: Species, Hybrids & Varities in Cultivation by Jane Boosey

This fat little orchid bible retails for $29.95 but my winning bid was $3.99. Total including shipping was $7.13. So I saved $22.82 on this one!

Growing Orchids: A Cultural Handbook Prepared by the AOS, 1993 Revised Edition

My winning bid was $0.99, and total cost including shipping was $3.49.

Orchids by Thomas J. Sheehan

My winning bid was another whopping $0.99! Total cost including shipping: $4.15. I can’t even find this book online, so I think it may be out of print (though the publication date is 2001, so it’s not all that old). It was published in association with the Smithsonian Institution and the American Orchid Society.

11 of 12 volumes of Orchids Magazine from 1996, American Orchid Society

My winning bid was $4.99; total cost including shipping: $10.71.

All in all, I spent $25.48 on three orchid books and 11 magazines. If you divide the cost, that’s $1.82 per publication! Not too shabby, eh? I love justifying purchases that way. There’s a ton of information in these books and magazines and I’ve been using them to do research for my blog posts and to care for my orchids. These purchases were definitely worth it!

I’m an American Orchid Society Member!

AOS Welcome Packet

Recently I became a member of the American Orchid Society (AOS, found at www.aos.org) and my membership includes all these cool benefits:

  • Monthly subscription to Orchids magazine
  • Free and discounted admission to more than 200 botanical gardens and arboreta
  • Receive the annual Orchid Source Directory detailing orchid suppliers worldwide
  • Access to online orchid information and features available only to members
  • 10% discount on purchases in the Orchid Emporium or on-line
  • Discount on back issues of Orchids magazine and on American Orchid Society published books
  • Reduced processing fees for American Orchid Society judged plant and flower awards
  • Discounts on orchid class fees at the American Orchid Society Botanical Gardens
  • Free admission to the American Orchid Society Botanical Gardens and 50% off admission for any guests

That’s all pretty sweet for only $65 a year, right?! Especially with the inclusion of the monthly magazine subscription. I’m pretty psyched about the free admission, reduced guest fees, and gift shop discounts at AOS botanical gardens. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York Botanical Garden, and Queens Botanical Garden are all on their list, as is the Missouri Botanical Garden (MoBot) in my hometown of St. Louis. Plus, I now have access to the members-only forum on the AOS website. More orchid nerdery! Love it!