The Garden Island Orchid Society opens the doors to its fall show and sale today from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Hanapepe United Church of Christ social hall, located adjacent to the Hanapepe Public Library.
The orchid extravaganza continues on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
“We are relaunching our full August Orchid Show this year,” said Garden Island Orchid Society President Elizabeth Botchelt in a GIOS newsletter. “Last August, we had a small pop-up display and sales event at the Kukui Grove Center. It was successful and we appreciated the opportunity that was given to us. However, we had limited space to work with, and it is a long haul from our Hanapepe storage shed. After lots of discussion, the Board decided we were ready to get back to having two full shows each year, both to be held at the church in Hanapepe.”
During the spring show that was co-chaired by Miranda Thornhill and Donna Lambdin, a Vanda Jake Justin was judged the Grand Champion, submitted by Mark Edlund. Paul Brun earned Reserve Champion honors with his Phalaenopsis pin.
“Admission is free, and there are lots of amazing, beautiful orchids,” said show co-chair Miranda Thornhill who celebrated her birthday on Thursday as orchid specimen flowed through the doors of the social hall. “Normally, I’m with the Nene Quilters. They’re having a show and sale that opens Friday too. I guess Donna Lambdin, the show’s co-chair, and I can go look at the quilts after we close this show.”
Thornhill expressed her pleasure at the society having the help of Neill and Fely Sams of Orchid Alley in Kapaa.
“Orchid Alley has always been a big part of the orchid shows,” Thornhill said. “They always manage to find good flowers.”
According to the Orchid Alley newsletter, many of the rare and exotic orchids are not available to the average orchid audience, such as the Dendrobium Braecteosum that peeked through the vanload of blooming orchids. A section of the van was covered with the big Grammatophyllum Seriptum Citrinum plants with healthy spikes and blooms.
Showgoers are also treated to demonstrations and workshops relating to orchids and orchid care, other sales to raise funds for the orchid club, and the opportunity to meet and walaau with the orchid growers.
Source: The Garden Island