Orchid show makes a big splash of colour at Botanic Park

By Christopher Tobutt

The Cayman Islands Orchid Society held their annual orchid show and sale at the Queen Elizabeth Botanic Park on Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 March.

There are more than 60 members of the Society, and they love their orchids. In the Kirkland Nixon Visitor’s Centre there was a magnificent display of orchids, all grown by Society members in their Garden. It was a good way to remember Cayman’s ex Fire Chief, the late Kirkland Nixon, who used to love orchids so much he grew thousands of them in his back garden and used to always help the Botanic Park in any way he could.

In the Children’s Garden, the building was full of beautiful orchids for sale. These are all imported orchids. Half of the funds raised will go to helping the park, and especially the completion of the lovely Children’s Garden and all its attractions. The other half of the funds will go towards the orchid society.

Orchid Society President, Hazel Brown was pleased with the way the show was going, as lots of smiling visitors were carrying their orchids back to their cars. “We are using this sale to raise funds to find a permanent home for the Orchid Society, where we can house our equipment and our educational stuff, and where we can have meetings. We also do membership drives at the orchid shows every year,” she said. 

Three Orchid Society members, Rachael, Vivia and Lynn were pleased with their haul of beautiful orchids, and were being driven back to their cars in one of the Botanic Park’s electric golf buggies. “We’ve had a very good morning show so far, lots of people have come out and they’ve bought lots of orchids, so we are very happy. There is also a raffle and two orchids are the prize for the raffle. The orchids that are for sale have been imported. The ones that are in the display have been grown in our gardens ....to show what can be grown here, and how big they can get if you look after them properly,” she said.

 “This one is called a Gold Digger, and Phaleonopsis and brassobola.” Vivia said, as she showed me around the beautiful display of orchids in the Vistor’s Centre.  Orchid society members love talking about their orchids to each other, and swapping tips. They will tell you that the orchids each have their own personalities, and it isn’t unheard of for growers to sit and talk to their orchids in the morning. 

Inside the Children’s Garden, where the sale was happening, three friends, Faith, Fijona and Nicole were thinking about which orchid to buy. There were hundreds there, and the air was filled with their scent. “I’m hoping to get some inspiration to keep one of these in my house, and don’t have it die on me,” Faith said. Nicole said, “No, I am not a member of the Orchid Society but I do like orchids. I’m not great at maintaining them but I am learning and I come here every year they have the orchid show. It’s lovely. I am going to buy one of these, and the Vanda. I love the Vandas.”