Carol Allen is the Orchid Lady. She has been involved in many aspects of gardening and horticulture since childhood and likes to describe herself as a committable plant-a-holic.  Carol’s interest in orchids started in her teen years with a fascination with North American native orchids. While she cannot credit herself with great success back then, it initiated a life-long interest.

Carol has over thirty years experience in the horticulture industry with special interests in Integrated Pest Management, landscape design, native plants, tropicals of many kinds, and especially orchids. She enjoys helping people understand how to care for their plants and holds orchid diagnostic and repotting clinics in the Washington Metro area (see schedule). 

After serving a term as supervisory horticulturist at the United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, Carol returned to college and earned a degree in horticulture.  Fascinated by the interaction of pest and prey, she went on to complete her master’s degree in plant science at the University of Maryland working with virus transmission in orchids.  

Carol has taught a wide range of horticultural topics and biological sciences at local colleges and universities and enjoys speaking to master gardeners, plant groups and societies about plants. When she speaks on plants, she combines her experience with an understanding of plant physiology and can give the listener the reasons why a plant responds the way it does. People can learn to change their habits, plants do not. Readers are informed and entertained by her column in the Washington Gardener magazine on pest issues.  Carol confesses to growing a wide range of plants in and around her home that she shares with cats, tropical fish, and pet snakes.