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George Fullerand Joy Wray7 th N.Z. NATIONAL ORCHID EXPOOn Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd November 2013 the Orchid Council of New Zealand will host the7th New Zealand National Orchid Expo in New Plymouth showcasing the very best of NewZealand grown orchids, they will be presented in breath taking displays created by orchid societymembers and individual growers from throughout New Zealand.Words Irena BrooksThe event is being organised tocoincide with the first weekend ofthe 2013 Powerco Taranaki GardenSpectacular.The TSB Stadium will be full tooverflowing with over 30 beautifullycrafted displays, with the opportunityto buy from 40 plus vendors sellingorchid plants, flasks of orchids, pots,orchid bark, garden plants, specialistfood and more. Pukekura Park Fernerystaff, the New Plymouth Floral ArtClub and Taranaki Patchworkers andQuilters will mount displays.Joy Wray, Chairperson of the ExpoCommittee reports that this is goingto be the biggest and best Orchid Showever held in Taranaki.The Expo opens on Friday 1November at 10.00 a.m. and pottingdemonstrations will take placethroughout the weekend. On Fridayevening people can come and viewthe orchids while listening to musicprovided by local musicians.Registrants from Australia, theUnited States and the entirebreadth of New Zealand will attenda Conference with internationallyrenowned speakers during the courseof the Expo.Of particular interest will be twospecialist displays of MasdevalliaAlliance and Sarcochilus orchids. Theconstruction of these displays willshow the orchids off to their absolutebest advantage, one will be burstingwith bright exciting colours while theother will portray a delicate avalancheof mostly white flowers.Most Masdevallias are recognisablefrom other orchids for two majorreasons. At the base of the leavesthere is not the usual bulbous growthand the flowers have only three visibleparts formed roughly into a trianglewith no ‘lip’. Colours range from purewhite to flamboyant orange, pink, redto purple, sometimes with spectaculariridescent texturing.They originate usually fromtemperate alpine zones in thenorthern regions of South America.They thrive with relatively littlestructural protection in the equableclimatic conditions of coastal NorthTaranaki.Most species in the genusSarcochilus are distributed in highcountry bordering the easterncoastline of NSW and Queensland.They thrive in damp temperaterainforest at moderate altitude.The stems of small flowers (5-40mmdiam.) are predominantly white butshades of red, yellow and gold occur.A shadehouse is ideal for growingthese gems of the bush.It could be said that local Taranakiidentity, George Fuller MBE, was bornwith an orchid in his hand as he hasbeen growing orchids for 67 yearsand as well as nurturing many Awardplants he is an orchid hybridiser ofsome note. As Patron of the OrchidCouncil of New Zealand George hasthis to say of the forthcoming Expo.“In matters orchidaceous it is perhaps notsurprising that New Plymouth has beenchosen as an appropriate venue for thisupcoming major national event. Taranakiholds an illustrious position in the NewZealand history of exhibiting orchids to thepublic and is famed throughout the landfor its high standard of orchid cultivation,display, administration and hospitality.This Expo should be a boomer!!!”For more information:www.orchidcouncil.co.nzemail: 7nznoe@hotmail.co.nzSarcochilus Bonanza ‘Bryan’Masdevallia Heathii‘Moosy’Masdevallia Falcata‘Golden Giant’Masdevallia Lyn Sherlock‘Oriental Queen’Sarcochilus Fizzy Dove ‘Medley’