DISCOVERY : Brecht Orchid Garden and Gift Shop

It makes perfect sense. Horses can be boarded at a stable, children can be sent to boarding school and prized pets can be sent to kennels while their owners are away. So why not board your out-of-season orchid as well?

Paul Brecht, owner of Brecht Orchid Gardens in Costa Mesa, allows orchid owners who are too busy to care for them--or when they are not in bloom--to deposit plants in his greenhouse. Some owners have just a few plants, while others have as many as several hundred in Brecht’s care.

“Orchids are brought to us when they have finished blooming and we keep them here until they bloom again next year,” said Brecht, who estimates that at least 5,000 to 7,000 plants reside in his exotic boarding house. Various species bloom at different times of the year. And once in bloom, their exotic, colorful flowers often last from three to six weeks.

In addition to boarding, Brecht also sells orchids. In fact, his nursery contains one of the largest and most varied selections in Southern California. The nursery recently appeared filled with butterflies, but the translucent white forms floating above the plants were actually the blossoms of the phalaenopsis variety, with their reed-like stems barely visible among the greenery.

Color selection among varieties runs from cool pastel to bold orange, pink, chartreuse and purple. Plumeria, the fragrant flowers used to make Hawaiian leis, are also sold, along with ginger, violets and ferns.

Although he is happy to board the plants, Brecht insists they are not hard to care for, “especially if you live near the coast, where it is very temperate. A house that is comfortable for you will be a good place to grow an orchid,” he said. “But if you live inland, you will have to be more careful about providing humidity.” Brecht suggests placing the plants in filtered sunlight on a tray of moist pebbles to keep the air around them humid.

Boarding fees are based on pot size and start at $1.35 a month for one to six-inch pots. Individual orchids for sale start at $20 each. Gift baskets are also available.

Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Closed Sunday.

Address: 1989 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa

Telephone: (714) 548-2314

Miscellaneous Information: Boarding fees include watering, spraying, feeding and repotting when necessary. Customers are notified by card or by phone when plants are ready to bloom. Pickup and delivery can be arranged. Plants left for boarding must be in good condition and free of disease.