Hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale, Indiana
Hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale, Indiana was just what my color-hungry eyes needed after this long, long winter. I have had enough of the bleak, cold, and snowy northwest Indiana weather. I needed a pick-me-up. I didn’t even have to go out of state for a bit of warmth. My destination was no further away than Putnam County.
Hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale, Indiana
Step into the warm, humid, sweet-smelling Indiana greenhouse and prepare to be wowed. There’s always something blooming here. This Putnam County greenhouse has four 100x 24-foot gutter connected greenhouses with almost 10,000 square feet of growing space.
Gently shove the tabletops to the side to walk down the gorgeous aisles. Find popular orchid varieties that are easy to grow in homes like Cattleyas, Lady Slippers, Oncidiums, and Phalaenopsis. But that’s not all.
It’s not every day that I have found myself surrounded by so many plants. As in tens of thousands of orchid plants. Our boys could barely contain themselves. Our visit occurred before leaves returned to trees and temperatures rose. They were ready to be outside again too.
We felt so good after exploring the greenhouses. The different smells, the bold colors, just browsing through the rows was incredible.
Cloverdale, Indiana Orchid Greenhouse
Hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale, Indiana
You could say that owners Dick Wells (and wife Sandy) know what they are doing. Dick has been growing orchids since 1954. He’s won more than sixty awards for his work with orchids thanks to many plants in their own breeding program, creating somewhere between 50 to 100 new hybrids each year.
Consider that for a moment. There are orchids out there in the world that are there because of a small town Indiana grower. Pretty neat, don’t you think?
When it comes to orchids, he’s really made a name for himself. That’s especially amazing when you consider that Cloverdale, Indiana has a population of around 2,000 people (as of the 2010 census).
But you can’t ignore the beauty of the flowers found here. In fact, thanks to the breeding program at Hilltop Orchid, you can find orchids here that you won’t find anywhere else. What I think it really neat is that there are two names on each plant, the names of the parents.
Sometimes, they won’t even have a name unless the person who developed the orchid wins a National Award for it or has a breeding request for it and then they decide on a name. I find that rather interesting.
Do you see initials behind the name of your plant? The initials HCC (Highly Commended Certificate), AM (Award of Merit) and FCC (First Class Certificate)indicate that the plant has received a national award or, in the case of the AOS, it was an award presented by the American Orchid Society.
In other words: you snagged one amazing plant.
Visit an Orchid Greenhouse
Hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale, Indiana
Get your flower fix at Hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale, Indiana. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, they have something for you. Hey, they are professionals here. If you are looking for something in particular or need a little TLC for an orchid of your own, this is exactly what you need to add to your Indiana travel plans.
It’s easy to find (even for me) and definitely worth adding this small town to your “must visit” list of Indiana towns. Sometimes I wonder if your list is as lengthy as mine. As always, call ahead before heading out. You won’t want to miss this unique Central Indiana destination. You can find Hilltop Orchids on Facebook.
Small Towns: Destinations, not Drive-Thrus. I’m Jessica Nunemaker and THIS is Little Indiana.
Just don’t forget to tell them that Little Indiana sent you.
Hilltop Orchids
1151 E County Road 800 S
Cloverdale, Indiana 46120
765.795.6016
Hilltop Orchids Hours:
Monday- Friday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 1 PM
Sunday: Closed
Please call if you would prefer to make an appointment.
Targeted. Relevant. Affordable! Little Indiana advertising.
