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The Dublin Orchid FayreMarch 20th – 21st 2004The Dublin Orchid was again held in the Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. My intention here is not to give an official report on the event, but to briefly describe what the highlights were for me. On entering the orchid hall I was greeted by a breathtaking display of wonderful blooms exhibited by Burnhams Nurseries of Newton Abbot, Devon, La Cour des Orchidčes from France, and Deva Orchids of Chester. The main difficulty for me here was which way do I go first! A myriad of colours beckoned me to each of the nurseries displays. I started off with La Cour des Orchidčes where my eyes feasted greedily on a dazzling display of Phalaenopsis and oncidium alliance hybrids. Their tables were laden with a profusion of Phalaenopsis in candy stripes, pinks, and whites, leopard spots and reds. To the left and right the graceful 3’ and 4’ spikes of the Oncidium alliance hybrids displayed their flowers in the hundreds again in every colour of the spectrum and more.
With great difficulty I dragged myself away and headed towards Burnhams Nurseries display where from a full five paces you were treated to a nasal stimulation from Coelogyne ochracea which displayed hundreds of pretty white blooms marked with orange-yellow. The photograph of his plant will never do it full justice, it had to be seen to be fully appreciated. To the left of the display sat a delightful plant of Vanda Gordon Dillon X sanderiana with it’s beautifully marked reddish blooms.
Hunting here and there amongst the larger plants could be found several gems of species, these often passed-over plants must surely deserve a place in everyone’s collection where they will delight all who sets eyes on them. Among them was Coelogyne ovalis and the delightful Maxilaria mirabilis ‘Yellow’. Tucked in at the front of there display was a pretty Cirrhopetalum auratum with its dainty umbrella-like inflorescence, a real gem! I reluctantly moved on from Burnhams but was rewarded by another exquisite display of Phalaenopsis hybrids from Deva Orchids along with my favourite Dendrobium nobile-type hybrids including Dendrobium Sweet Pinky ‘Love’, Den. Aporon, and Den. Godfried Lenz ‘Kassia’ all in full flower.
Having spent a day soaking up the atmosphere and bathing in a sea of colour I returned home already looking forward to next years Dublin Orchid Fayre. In the meantime, I hope that those of you who have been unfortunate in missing this display, enjoy the photographs. © Bill Hunter 23rd March 2004
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