Orchids in bloom

ORCHID fans are in for a treat at the Natal Orchid Society’s annual autumn Orchid Show next weekend.

All orchid lovers and keen gardeners are invited to visit the show where oncidiums, cattleyas, dendrobiums, vandas and many more, will be on display.

President of the society, Melanie van Greunen, said there would also be potting demonstrations on both days and a wide variety of orchids would be on sale for those who wanted to add to, or start, their own collection. Van Greunen fell in love with orchids as a child, saying: “I grew up among the apple orchards of Grabouw, in the Western Cape. My parents knew an old lady in Gordon’s Bay who grew orchids and I was mesmerised.” She moved to KZN about 25 years ago, but her orchid collection took off when she joined the society. Today she has about 120 species of orchid and close to 400 plants.

The show opens to members on Friday, when members present their plants for judging. These are divided into different classes – species and colours. Judging takes place early on the Saturday morning before the show opens to the public and winning plants will be ribboned.

“There will also be a winners table where the best cattleya or dendrobiums on show will be displayed.”

The show is on March 17, from 10am to 4pm, and March 18, from 9am to 3pm, at the Parkhill Bowling Club, off uMhlanga Rocks Drive, Durban North.

Van Greunen said society horticulturists and experts would be on hand to answer the public’s questions and assist with troubleshooting. “They’ll be easy to spot. Come and ask them about how to grow orchids or where to cut an orchid or how to mount them properly, or attach them to a tree. You can even bring in a plant for advice,” she said.

Light lunches and refreshments will be on sale in the tea garden. Entrance is R15 adults, R10 pensioners and children under 12 are free. There will also be raffles offering orchids as prizes.

Orchid-growers are also invited to attend the monthly meetings of the society at the Parkhill Bowling Club, on the second Monday of every month at 6.30pm.

Van Greunen added that they had monthly guest speakers. “Members can bring in plants and we have a real horticultural discussion. We discuss how much light, water or feed they may require and whether they need a rest period of not.”

For more information, call Gordon Low at 083 790 8686 or Van Greunen at 083 456 0178 or e-mail her at: reservation@fairwaydurban.co.za