Trying my hand at orchids

I was recently given a beautiful red/brown cymbidium orchid as a birthday gift. Now, I love these and all the many other forms of orchids, but am not an orchid grower by any estimation. I have only ever tried once before in a climate that was anything but suitable with the result that, not unexpectedly, it died!
That was over 35 years ago, and I haven’t succumbed to the temptation to try again until my friend arrived with the beautiful specimen for me. Each year, I drool at the displays for sale in nurseries and chain stores but, knowing my limitations, I have successfully resisted.
Now that I have this beauty in my lounge room, I will have to learn how to care for it. I really think it needs a friend to keep it company, so will be looking for one among the display at the extravaganza.
I am lucky this time as the climate is more conducive to their care, and also I am pleased to know some members of the Horticultural Society who grow a wonderful array of many types and hopefully will be able to give me some tips on what to do.
Last year, I went to the Boonah orchid show and was entranced by the variety of types, the colours and the perfume. It was a great day out, and I will definitely keep an eye out for a repeat performance.
Apparently a common name for cymbidiums, although I personally have never heard it, is “boat orchid” because of their shape! The name is derived from the Latin “cymba” meaning boat, and was first used to describe them in 1815. There is evidence from the time of Confucius in 500 BC that they were grown in China over 2500 years ago.
They are the most popular orchid grown in Australia and can be grown easily in all of the capital cities and coastal areas and inland so long as they are protected from frosts.
They originally come from Northern India, South East Asia and Northern Australia. They require at least 50 per cent light, so will not do well under dense shade but the filtered light of gum tress is ideal. They will not flower if they are not getting enough light, but can’t have direct sunlight as this will burn their leaves. The experts assure me that they are easy to look after. I am not entirely convinced! I hope some of the readers have been able to come to the Extravaganza and talk to our experts if you had any questions. I will certainly be seeking advice!
At present in my garden I am still picking little pear shaped yellow tomatoes and some red ones as well.
The rainbow chard and spinach is continuing and the broccolini is going well. Once you’ve eaten home grown broccoli, it is extremely hard to go back to the commercially produced product from the supermarket. The taste difference is like chalk and cheese!
My first lot of snow peas have petered out, but the lovely deep purple ones are coming on well. They look so decorative in the garden with the pink and purple flowers and purple pods. The broad beans are also doing well, but I must admit I really only grow them for effect. I am not a huge fan of the beans themselves although I do have one recipe in which they are needed. They require cooking and peeling though, and this is very tedious so this dish is not on the menu often.
Another item that I am very pleased with in the garden is the passion fruit vines. I am pleased to report that the Panama Gold has ripe fruit on it and the Nelly Kelly has been flowering and set fruit also. I’m delighted!!
When the frosts take up I have some chokoes ready to go in. ABC gardening presenter Jerry Colby Williams has said that all vegetable gardens should include a choko vine. In his words as an Englishman, “They are the Heathrow airport of the garden”! Apparently, they are very attractive to beneficial insects and will help to attract them to our gardens and keep many of the harmful ones at bay.
They are a nostalgic inclusion for me as, in my childhood, every suburban garden included one, usually helping to disguise the outside toilet in the back yard!! I can’t say they are a favourite vegetable of mine either, but they are prolific once you get them established and a useful cover for fences and garden sheds.
Picked when they are very small, steamed and served with a drizzle of butter, is by far my favourite way of eating them. As a child they were usually left until they were quite large, were a pain to peel, ending up with the sticky residue on your hands, and then boiled and served in a curry or herb sauce or just plain boiled. How our eating habits have changed in the last 50 years!
The next big thing on the Horticultural Society Calendar of events is the Spring Garden Competition and Spring Flower Show in October.
Keep working on your gardens and I hope we have as many or more entries than last year’s record.