Orchid show set to be dazzling affair

BRIGHTLY-speckled flowers hang from the rafters, peer over the table tops and wind their way up stalks as Melanie van Greunen tends to them with precious care. The Fairway resident is the vice-president of the Natal Orchid Society (NOS) and is one of the organisers behind this year’s Orchid and Rare Plant Fair on 18 July.

“I’ve always had a fascination with orchids. I like to start things and grow them. Their beauty is unrivalled in the animal and plant kingdom. I love to find exotic orchids that are challenging to raise and get them to bloom. My mom was an avid gardener and she prompted my love for plants,” she explained.

Van Greunen recently joined the NOS and has hosted the Orchid Show for the past two years. It was a conversation after the show that prompted the rare plant fair.

“My husband and I often discussed it and we were toying with the idea. Eventually I said, why don’t we just do it? One of the rare plants I will be displaying is an orchid from the southern parts of Bahia and Espirito Santo states of Brazil, which flowers in the early summer months, the Cattleya (Laelia) Tenebrosa. Unlike other orchids, it is not a hybrid plant.

“My hope is that the Durban North community supports the event. Besides the beautiful plants, there will also be potting demonstrations, raffles and orchid displays by the NOS, as well as a tea garden. There will also be a kiddies’ play area. We will also have a number of vendors from around the province showing off their collections. The aim of the show is to grow awareness of orchids and rare plants. Hopefully we can inspire others to explore their green-fingered sides,” she said.

The Orchid and Rare Plant Fair will take place on Saturday, 18 July, from 9am to 5pm. The event will be held at 118 Fairway, Durban North. The entrance free is R10 for adults and it is free for children under 12. For more information contact Melanie on 031 563 7102 or 083 456 0178.