Full of orchid passion

By Kath Gannaway
WESBURN resident Alan Reidy is passionate about orchids and he’s not on his own.
The Seville Hall will be filled this weekend with people who share his enthusiasm for one or more of the 25,000 to 30,000 orchid varieties which populate every corner of the earth, except the two Poles.
The Yarra Valley Orchid Society’s 21st annual show gives members, including Alan and his wife, Eileen, the chance to find out what’s happening in the world of orchid growing.
Mr Reidy’s interest in orchids started when the couple visited a YVOS show as few years ago.
“We went in and it was magnificent. You could not move for plants, and the perfume was unbelievable,” Alan said.
$250 later Mr Reidy walked away with the start of what he concedes has grown into a muchloved obsession.
“I started with cymbidiums like everybody does, then found they were too big for the house,” he said.
He now specialises in the smaller odontoglossum and masdevallia varieties and has won numerous awards, including the highly prized Victorian Masdevallia of the Year award for 2003 for a magnificent specimen of his Red Sun Cornish.
The annual show is a wonderful time for YVOS members and other enthusiasts to get together but it is also a great opportunity for anyone with a love of plants or a yearning to grow their own orchids to buy plants and talk with the experts.
In addition to hundreds of plants including cymbidiums and native varieties, there are potting demonstrations, plant sales, raffles and Devonshire teas and light lunches.
From Mr Reidy’s experience it would seem that orchid shows should come with a warning there is a serious risk of becoming obsessed with these beautiful plants.
At least the obsessed won’t be on their own!
The Yarra Valley Orchid Society’s annual show is on from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday at the Seville Hall, Warburton Highway, Seville.
Phone Angela Bonfadini on 5964 3396 for further information.