Gene Monnier
Gene Monnier is a graduate of Florida Atlantic Universitywhere he earned a BS in Biology.
He has been growing orchids for over 25 years.
His main emphasis is in breeding Catasetinae and Zygopetinae
as well as seed propagation of New World species.
His Catamodes Black Magic received an AM of 88 pts
from the AOS and an Award of Distinction for the blackest orchid seen to date.
His Zygopetalum breeding programs have produced compact
and dwarf warm growing hybrids, often free flowering,
though the use of such genera is Acacalis, Batemania, Galeotea and Zygosepalum
and have additionally produced new red tones
as well as unusual blue tones in the intergeneric hybrids.
Gene has traveled extensively through parts of tropical America,
including Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Columbia, Brazil, and Panama.
He has worked with both universities and the private sector
to help set up laboratories for the propagation of orchid species within these countries.
He has published widely in the AOS magazine Orchids,
the Florida Orchidist, and the Orchid Digest
and has collaborated in the writing of two books.
J.E.M. Orchids (named for his wife Jean E.) in Delray Beach, Florida
is less than 2000 ft. down the road from the new AOS Headquarters.
