Q I will soon be visiting Guatemala and Peru and would like to know if there are any orchid gardens or nurseries I could visit.

A  In Guatemala you should visit Vivero Verapaz, which is in the Coban area. It is open Monday through Saturday (telephone 502-811-6527). In Peru, Isaias Rolando, MD, organizes tours of the orchid collection at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (telephone 51-1-422-6474; e-mail central@inkaterra.com). More information on both establishments is in the excellent and inexpensive guide to public orchid collections around the world. The Orchid Tourist, by Susie Plimpton. Copies of this 64-page, softcover book (OS 121) are available through the Orchid Emporium (toll free 1-877-ORCHIDS or dial 561-404-2020; fax 561-404-2100; e-mail mmann@aos.org; Web site orchidweb.org). Additionally, the AOS 2002-2004 Orchid Source Directory lists two commercial orchid nurseries in Lima, Peru, that are equipped for export: CJM Orquideas (telephone 51 1 444 5315; e-mail cjmgard@terra.co.pe) and Orquideas Peruanas (telephone 51 1 3444113; e-mail manuelarias@viabcp.com). —Andy Easton.