"Someone gave me an orchid and I was hooked," he said. "It was different than any other plant I'd ever seen. What a hold it puts on you. I had to have more."

That first orchid created a passion that led Grezaffi to create more than 1,500 orchid hybrids during the years.

Those creations and a variety of other orchids are on display and for sale six days a week at Grezaffi Orchids near West Melbourne. Orchid lovers will find a visit to the nursery utter bliss, and the trip is likely to fascinate even those with only a moderate interest in orchids.

Grezaffi's seven greenhouses are chock-full of thousands of cattleya, dendrobium, paphiopedilum and phalaenopsis orchids.

Cattleyas are the showy corsage orchids, but many people are unaware of the species' incredible diversity. Grezaffi's favorite among the hybrids he has created is a cattleya, a big pink beauty he named BLC Joe.

"When you go to create a hybrid, you think really, really hard about what you want it to look like and what two orchids you can put together to make that happen," he said.

Creating a hybrid and growing it to maturity and its first blooming can take between four and 10 years.

Phalaenopsis, or moth orchids, are the easiest to grow and are recommended for beginners. Even so, they are exquisite. A hybrid by Grezaffi, named black butterfly, is an intriguing example. Recently in bloom, the deep magenta flower features a white outline.

Paphiopedilum, the ladyslipper orchid, can also be a good beginner plant. Like Phalaenopsis, it's frequently featured at Target stores.

Grezaffi has many more "pap" and "phal" species and hybrids.

The dendrobium group, the second largest genus of orchids, features striking plants, including those with a podlike lip. Grezaffi's hybrid, called prime child, is an example of the otherworldly look of some dendrobiums.

While orchids species and hybrids bloom at various times throughout the year, visitors will see the most blooms at Grezaffi Orchids during March, April and May.

The orchid plants range widely in price. Some of the rare species are expensive, but many of the orchids sell for about $25.

Those who have read "The Orchid Thief" will find Grezaffi no less interesting a character than any in the book.

"He was gruff when I first met him, but now he's one of my best friends," said Dian Milligan during a recent trip to the nursery. "He's one of the nicest people I know, and he knows everything you could possibly want to know about orchids."

Milligan has more than 100 orchids at her Indialantic home, most of which were purchased at Grezaffi Orchids.

"I've gotten many of them as gifts from family members over the years," she said. "They know they better buy them here."