A celebration took place over the weekend as the enthusiastic gardener enjoyed viewing a beautiful exhibit of orchids from around the world in Kerang for the 22nd Victorian Country Orchid Clubs Challenge. Ten displays with an average of 50 plants made their way to the Kerang Basketball Stadium, supported by the sharing of gardening knowledge and commercial stalls.
Photo: The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper
Orchids that flower at this time of year added a different look to what is seen at the Mid Murray Orchid Club’s September Show. Orchids grow worldwide, and the hemisphere and country they grow in will build the genetics of an orchid and determine which time of year the plant will flower.
Mid Murray Orchid Club president Graeme Oram said, “We had 11 display entries, down to 10 as Geelong could not make it. Overall, the quality is there, and it is very good. We are very happy with it.
“Having the show this time of year, you see flowers you don’t see in September. It is really good to see different plants. Orchids flower at different times of the year, depending on the type and country they are from. They can go a long time without water as they have food storage in their stem. Depending on the orchid, they can take many years before they flower.”
Deputy Mayor Jane Ogden witnessed her first orchid show and was impressed with the locals’ colour, types and knowledge. “I have really loved it,” she said. “I have been shown around by Leanne and Helen from the Mid Murray Orchid Club. There was a wonderful dinner last night (Friday) with 118 people attending. It has been really amazing, as I have never been.
“I do a bit of gardening with mostly natives so I don’t have to do a lot of work in it. This has really blown me away. How much work goes in, how beautiful they are and the differences. I can really appreciate the hard work that everyone puts in.”
Mid Murray Orchid Club won the ‘Orchid Club Challenge’ peer-voted best display.
The Victorian Country Orchid Club Challenge will head to Warrnambool in 2024, but you will have the chance to see the Mid Murray Orchid Club’s own annual show in Kerang in September.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 6 July 2023.
