EVENTS

Indeed always something new out of Africa!
The 13th National SAOC Show held in white River at Casterbridge in September was a huge success. Orchid enthusiasts from all over the country and as far as Switzerland, Ecuador and Russia enjoyed a wonderful show with very high quality plants and an excellent conference.

We were very happy with our own results picking up over 35 first prizes and seven of these went to the winners table.

Exciting new seedlings
showing their 'true colours'

Wow, what excitement and what a reward to see new babies starting to flower and coming out tops!

The new breeding lines with the King Epidendrum have been very successful and we are seeing some large flowers, excellent shape and vibrant colours coming through.

Sarcochilus Heidi

The Sarcochilus Heidi grex is turning out to be extremely popular and so full of fun - some are pure white with a dark centre, some are raspberry red and others are full of cheeky pink spots.

On a recent open day Francine van Rooyen showed some easy, but very creative, ways to use slipper orchids in flower arrangements. Slippers (Paphiopedilum) are one of the most popular orchid cut flowers because they are so very long lasting and versatile.

SPRING TIME !
Spring is in the air with the Clivias in full bloom and the birds chirping away in the garden.

SHOW TIME !

Our local society , the Lowveld Orchid Group (LOG), had a very succesful spring show in August.
The Riverside Mall had a facelift with beautiful displays of indigenous and exotic orchids filling the air with sweet (and sometimes strange) perfumes.

On a lovely Winters day (first of June) we had our ninth open day at the nursery.
This time we had a display of many different orchid books for the public to browse through

Quite a few of the Cattleyas were in full bloom and made quite a show for all the friendly visitors. As always it was a pleasure to throw our doors open to plant lovers from all over the country.

Orchids have never failed to take us to meet wonderful people and see fascinating places. On a recent trip to judge at the Wolkberg show, we had the incredible experience of visiting the largest Baobab tree and enjoying a quick beer in the inner depths of this majestic giant.

Judged best on show at Wolkberg was an exceptionally well-grown and well-flowered Arpophyllum giganteum (owners: Sarel and Marieta Spies) with Lc Flirty x L. flava (owners: George and Ramona Short), the cheerful runner-up.

We would like to share with you some of our winners at the recent show of the
Lowveld Orchid Group (LOG) held at the Botanical garden in Nelspruit.

We were pleasantly surprised to win Best on Show with Dendrobium formosum var. giganteum ‘Witrivier’. The delicate blooms started to open about three weeks before the show and was in an immaculate condition on the day of judging. It was also awarded an AM/SAOC of 84% (pending ratification by the judges of the SAOC). Sieg Hamman, proud of his champion plant.

We were pleasantly surprised to win Best on Show with Dendrobium formosum var. giganteum ‘Witrivier’. The delicate blooms started to open about three weeks before the show and was in an immaculate condition on the day of judging. It was also awarded an AM/SAOC of 84% (pending ratification by the judges of the SAOC). Sieg Hamman, proud of his champion plant.
	Roelie van Rooyen with a well-deserved Runner-up champion, Paph Ma-Belle ‘Witrivier’ AM/SAOC
Lc Tricksi (Cat. Nitsi x Lc. Chicanery). A very fine and colourful clone of this grex made by Roelie in 1983, won the trophy for the best Lowveld bred hybrid.