Easter half term saw students, staff and volunteers (including ex-students) attend the RHS London Spring Launch and Orchid Show.
As always, there is much work to do behind the scenes before a show opens and, students, volunteers and staff worked hard for two days only just completing the stand in time for the evening preview on Monday 8 April.
There has been a lot of barely contained excitement in the greenhouses as students were nurturing their wards and encouraging them to be in peak condition.
Our students have clearly done something right:
- They collected Best Specimen in Show and an RHS Certificate of Cultural Commendation for their Dendrobium x delicatum. It is thought to be the largest specimen in cultivation in Europe – our sympathies go out to the committee members tasked to count the flowers!
- They were awarded the prestigious Gold Medal for Best Display.
- Issy collected her RHS Orchid Trophy 2018 from RHS President, Sir Nicholas Bacon. The award is given annually for the best orchid specimen seen by the RHS Orchid committee for her plant Brassavola tuberculata.
A popular stand attraction is our propagation laboratory where visitors are able to re-plate their own seedlings with expert instruction from students.
The show provided an excellent opportunity to meet a delegation from Kuching (Sarawak) which included the Mayor, Director and Deputy Director of the Development and Landscape Department who will host the Asian Pacific Orchid Congress in July. The Orchid Project is looking forward to participating in this event and working with the MRSM School in Kuching.
Every show provides its own challenge and this year was no exception. When a German exhibitor had to rush home leaving his display and sales plants behind, our students stepped in and ran the stand. “It was brilliant being able to help out!” said Chloe.
The plants are now all safely back at school and happy after a good soaking with rain
water.
Mr Pugh-Jones said: “I am really proud of the student and adult team that put together our most successful London Show ever. I have had hundreds of people asking me to pass on congratulations to the amazing orchid project students, both those who worked so hard at the show and those who worked so hard at school to grow such great plants and prepare for the show.”
The next event is the Devon Orchid Show in Budleigh Salterton on 4 May 2019.
