Come along with me and my cohost Teresita on a special day at legendary orchid pioneers, R.F. orchids located in the heart of the agricultural district of Miami, Florida also. Known as Redland (Agricultural District). R.F. Orchids opened its doors in the fall of 1970 on a portion of Fred and Louise Fuchs’ 1921 homestead property.
Fred, Sr. and Louise ran their nursery together until Fred, Sr.’s death in 1969. Because of Fred’s ill health in the last few years of his life, the nursery suffered some decline during that time. In 1970 grandson Robert Fuchs graduated from Florida State University, and after graduation returned to Homestead and began a massive cleanup and renovation of the nursery. He brought in plants from his own collection, which had been housed at another site, and R.F. Orchids opened for business in December of that year.
At that time, Bob’s official profession was teaching at Homestead Junior High, and the nursery was open only on weekends and afternoons after school. Juggling both commitments was quite an effort.
1984 brought the attention of orchid growers around the world to Miami, for the 11th World Orchid Conference and its prestigious orchid show. Much of that attention focused on R.F. Orchids when their plants won 12 individual medals and their exhibit won a Best In Class trophy. And most important of all, R.F. Orchids’ plant Vanda Deva ‘Robert’ was honored as the Grand Champion of the11WOC. This award catapulted them into international recognition and acceptance as one of the leading vandaceous orchid firms in the world. Today Bob Fuchs together with husband and VP of RF Orchids, Micheal Coronado continue the RF legacy showcasing a massive tropical garden that serves as their branded center offering wonderful tours, events rentals, and yearly events that gives us orchid collectors exciting fairs and orchid shows year round.
I hope you enjoy this small but fun tour around their historic greenhouses filled with thousands of award winning beauties.
RF ORCHIDS
28100 SW 182nd Ave.
Homestead, Florida 33030
305-245-4570
