​Beth McDowell is a local gardener new to the hobby. 

​Growing up in Scotland, she met some of the hardiest orchids in the mountains, but had to wait for the Pacific Orchid Exposition in 2019 to appreciate the whole family. 

Her collection so far includes Phragmipedium, Paphiopedilum, Dendrobium, and pleurothallid species. She also loves bulbs, ferns, and desert plants.