November 2025 - Carol Beule “The Essence of Japan and Fuukiran: A Country of Gardeners, Perfectionists and Tradition"

Carol Beule

This month we are thrilled to welcome back Carol Beule. Japan is a country of gardeners, perfectionists and tradition, which leads to why these plants are held in such high esteem. Carol has visited Japan several times and has experienced numerous aspects of Japanese culture and the fascination with Fuukiran or Neofinetia (Vanda) falcata, the native orchid of Japan and Korea. She will cover the Japan Fuukiran Society & their judging system, growers through    out Japan and talk about all the most important varieties in both Japan and Korea, showing examples of all of these glorious plants. She will end her talk with how to grow them, depending on where you live.

   Carol is a shared speaker with the San Diego Orchid Society, and she will be giving her talk on "Some Small Paphs and Their Crosses" at 6:30pm on Tuesday, November 4th in Balboa Park. You can watch her talk on Zoom (contact Alex for the link) or in person at the Casa Del Prado, room 101. 

  Carol Beule is an EMMY award winning Costume Designer with a Master of Fine Arts in both Costume and Lighting Design from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She was a professional Costume Designer from 1974 until her retirement in July of 2017. She has grown all species of orchids since purchasing a home at the base of the Hollywood Hills 25 years ago, and it has been her quest to discover which orchids will thrive in the unique climate she has in the San Fernando Valley and the surrounding communities. In her search to find the perfect plants for her growing area, Carol now grows Neofinetia (Vanda) falcata, Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Laelia, Dendrobium, Lycaste, Asian Cymbidiums and Rossioglossum on her patio and in two small greenhouses at her home in Studio City. Carol is a Fully Accredited American Orchid Society Judge, the 1st VP of the Orchid Society of Southern California and is on the committee that creates the Society’s display for the Huntington’s annual October Orchid Show.    

    When Carol retired, she started making ceramic pots for Neofinetia (Vanda) falcata, Asian Cymbidiums and other small plants and she has written a 3-part article for the American Orchid Society monthly magazine on the pots used to display Vanda falcata in Japan and the US. It was illustrated using some photos taken by her and other OSSC members.  The 1st part started in February of 2022, and continued through to the April issue of last year. You can view her various items at: firsthousefurnishings.com. Carol will have a few of her pots available for sale at the meeting. 

   This month’s plant table will be from vendors and members who donated orchids to our recent plant sale in September.