John Russell McCallen graduated from Stanford University with a degree in biology, focusing on ecology and evolution, in 2009. He currently works at Google conducting design research for music products.
At 8 years old John encountered a pink Phalaenopsis hybrid in the small flower shop in Telluride, Colorado and was immediately captivated. After reading up on the orchid family, he began a collection that’s moved with him from a Colorado windowsill, to a greenhouse in Washington state, to under LED lights in San Francisco, to outdoors in Southern California.
John Russell has a passion for Cypripedioideae that has been recognized by the American Orchid Society with quality awards for Phragmipedium and Paphiopedilum clones from his collection.
Aside from orchids, John Russell hybridizes Magnolias and keeps collections of tropical rhododendrons, epiphytic cacti, passionflowers, species lilies, herbaceous, Itoh, and tree peonies.
John Russell has served on the SFOS Board since 2019 and is the current Secretary.
At 8 years old John encountered a pink Phalaenopsis hybrid in the small flower shop in Telluride, Colorado and was immediately captivated. After reading up on the orchid family, he began a collection that’s moved with him from a Colorado windowsill, to a greenhouse in Washington state, to under LED lights in San Francisco, to outdoors in Southern California.
John Russell has a passion for Cypripedioideae that has been recognized by the American Orchid Society with quality awards for Phragmipedium and Paphiopedilum clones from his collection.
Aside from orchids, John Russell hybridizes Magnolias and keeps collections of tropical rhododendrons, epiphytic cacti, passionflowers, species lilies, herbaceous, Itoh, and tree peonies.
John Russell has served on the SFOS Board since 2019 and is the current Secretary.