[Andy Benson Orchid - Florence Zuegel]

Cfa collection: John Nash Ott Collection
Notes: Andrew Benson and Florence Zuegel, the owner and the secretary and treasurer respectively of Andrew Benson, Inc., provide John Nash Ott with a tour of Benson's greenhouse located in Des Plaines, Illinois. Concluding footage shows Benson and Zuegel as they examine various orchids which likely include Cattleya labiata Alba, Paphiopedilum Winston Churchill and Cattleya gaskelliana.; Benson hunted for orchids throughout Colombian jungles and other tropical areas of South America, India, the Philippines, and the East Indies, and began to cultivate them at his Des Plaines greenhouse after the United States government imposed a blockade on wholesale imports in order to prevent spread of tropical diseases. He is credited with having cultivated more than 175 new orchid hybrids from only five distinct types.; Zuegel began working for Benson in 1926, and quickly assumed the role as custodian of records for all floral varieties grown by the business. During the course of her career, she traveled to the jungles of Brazil in search of orchids, and also studied hybridization in England, Germany, France and Denmark.; Andrew Benson, Inc. also operated a greenhouse located in Jacksonville, Florida.
Subjects: Flowers; Plants; Business; Business people; Consumer goods
Places: North America > United States > Illinois > Des Plaines
Cfa elements: 203 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/36343