Fender's Flora, Inc
Orchid Hobby to Orchid Business
A Thirty-Five Year History


Fender's Flora, Inc., created and operated by Bill and Susan Fender, is 30 years old and still growing healthy, vigorous orchids with enthusiasm! Bill received his first orchid, Brassocattleya Binosa, from Susan's mother in 1969. Little did Susan's mother know that that gift of just one orchid would inspire not only a love of orchids for Bill and Susan but also a complete lifestyle change! Bill began his orchid hobby by searching through bareroot cattleya and epidendrum jungle-collected species then available at stores such as W. T. Grant and Murphy's Dime Store. He wouldn't pay more than $1.00 for a division! Of course, those orchids grew and bloomed and he became addicted to growing more orchid varieties.

Bill's interests turned to the vandaceous group of orchids in the early 1970s and he began corresponding with Dr. A.G. Tharp, an orchid judge who was and is very well respected and had many connections with the Hawaiian growers. This was an explosive era for orchids as they evolved from rare and exotic plants into plentiful and available. Dr. Tharp was associated with such famous orchids as Blc. Orange Nugget, Blc. Toshie Aoki, and Blc. Waikiki Gold. These orchids are still widely known in the 21st century. Bill acquired many wonderful vandaceous orchids from Dr. Tharp, some selected from Roy Fukumura's breeding. Bill's father-in-law also purchased an original division of Brassavola digbyana 'Mrs. Chase', AM/AOS as a gift for Bill from Dr. Tharp, who received the Award of Merit. The orchid hobby was growing in quantity and quality with more cattleyas, more dendrobiums, more vandas and ascocendas, and even some oncidiums and phalaenopsis.

In 1974, Bill and Susan decided to begin their business of Fender's Flora and leave behind their teaching careers. So with two small children, the Fenders began their new life by moving from St. Petersburg, Florida to Brooksville, Florida. In 1980 they moved their business to the "Foliage Capital of the World," Apopka, Florida, where their business thrived for 20 years. Missing the west coast of Florida where Bill was born, Bill and Susan moved to Venice, Florida in 2000. Their lifestyle slowed somewhat but their love of orchids continued to grow. Fender's Flora, Inc. evolved into a primarily internet-based business to make quality orchids available to more people.

The Fenders received their first of several awards from the American Orchid Society on Onc. Mendenhall 'Papa's Dream', AM/AOS. The 'Papa' is in memory of Susan's father, John Gray, who also loved orchids. Since then Bill and Susan have received awards of cultural excellence on Phalaenopsis Carol Campbell 'Bill Fender', CCM/AOS; Dialaelia Snowflake 'Bill Fender', CCM/AOS; Tolumnia desertorum var. alba-rubrum 'Venice Dancer',CCM/AOS; Laeliocattleya Amber Glow 'Magnificent', CCM/AOS; Oncidium Kalihi 'Venice Monarch' CCM/AOS; and Asconopsis Irene Dobkin 'York' CCM/AOS. Other awards include Doritaenopsis Lonnie Morris 'Susan Fender', AM/AOS; Doritaenopsis Abed-nego 'Issachar', HCC/AOS; Potinara Beaufort Gold 'Susan Fender', AM/AOS; Potinara Susan Fender 'Cinnamon Stick', AM/AOS; and Sophrocattleya June Bug 'Venice Sunshine', AM/AOS. Fender's Flora grew the plants of Schombocattleya Dulatiaca 'Deep South' which received two CCM/AOS, one in Savannah and one at the Miami Orchid Show. Fender's Flora received an award at the 2004 Miami Orchid show for Laeliocattleya Jungle Festival 'Venice Sun Spots', HCC/AOS. Carter and Holmes Orchids recently received an award on their division from one of Fender's orchids, Cattleya Brabantiae 'El Toro', AM/AOS. Susan even received an artistic award at the 2003 Venice Orchid Society show for her quilt entitled "Susan's Orchid Nonsense," which features Marion Sheehan's drawings of cattleyas, butterfly oncidiums, tolumnias, phalaenopsis, vandas, encyclias, ansellias, brassias, cypripediums and even that Florida native species, the Ghost Orchid!

Fender's Flora, Inc. is known for its consistently high quality orchids, expert customer service, packing and shipping, and especially customer satisfaction. The Fenders are still enthusiastic and that first orchid, Bc. Binosa, is still growing and blooming frequently!!