Tags: Gardening. Orchids. Gardening shows. Lifestyle. Bribie Island. Brisbane
CYMBIDIUMS EPIDENDRUMS VANDAS (and others)
Despite weather that can best be described as ugly, the Bribie Island Orchid Society’s Spring Orchid and Foliage Show attracted almost eight hundred visitors over the two days of the event. Society Secretary Teresa Watson told me that the response from the public was better than expected considering the inclement weather and the quality of the exhibits earned praise from the judges.
Featured Image(above): Vendors from near and far came to the show
‘The guest judge from the Australian Orchid Council remarked that the blooms were the best he had seen,’ said Teresa. ‘He told us that even after two days, the quality had not diminished,’ she added. The well-patronised show was held in the Orchid House and in the adjacent Indoor Bowls Hall and, as well as being able to inspect the staggering number of exhibits, those who came along were given the opportunity to make a purchase from one of the vendors who came from as far away as Sarina.
Photo Credit: Marj Webber
As you would expect at an event such as this, there was the chance to win a prize in one of the raffles and Teresa has pointed out that all of the raffles, including the major prize which was donated by Mitre 10, were won by locals. ‘The raffles were a great success and we will be donating twenty-five per cent of the profit from them to the Vietnam Veterans Association,’ said Teresa.
Photo Credit: Marj Webber
Member for Pumicestone Simone Wilson was there to present the prizes to those whose exhibits had been judged as worthy of an award and it was R&J Hopkins of Caboolture who took out the prize for Champion Orchid of Show. Reserve Champion went to J&B Hopgood whilst Robertson Orchids picked up Champion Species with G&C Button’s exhibit was named as Champion Specimen.
Judges were impressed by the quality of the exhibits
Those trusty chefs from the Vietnam Veterans were there with the yummy sausages
The award for Champion Australian Native went to M&A Vlekkert and T Beenders took out Champion Foliage. As an indication of just how much people love their orchids, Teresa said that the club sales table, where members can sell their plants, took more than $4,000 during the show. With the Spring event now over, the Bribie Island Orchid Society is now planning for their very popular Easter show.