South Auckland Orchid Society show coming to Pukekohe

Sapeer Mayron Reporter from Franklin County News

The South Auckland Orchid Society is back in business after a Covid-19 induced hiatus, bringing its orchid show to Pukekohe on Saturday September 03.

The colourful and dynamic orchid has been one of Ernie and Margaret Harvey’s great loves for most of their lives.

Their bright colours and hardiness mean they are blooming in the Harvey’s Mangatāwhiri home year round. And now you can see them too, at the Pukekohe Town Hall, alongside dozens of other blooms with their proud growers.'

Margaret Harvey grows her orchids in pots, so she can move them around as she likes. At one stage when the couple lived in Pukekohe, her shade house held around 200 orchids.

The Harvey’s have been members of the South Auckland Orchid Society for just about as long as the society has been running. Founded in the early 1970s, many of the society’s members are either longstanding like the Harveys or sadly passed away.

The couple are eager to see younger people join in and get as excited about orchids as them, and enjoy just how much joy they can bring to their home.

“The biggest thing with being a member is you learn from other people’s mistakes, or problems. You can learn what results people get, and what’s the best thing to grow them in.”

They said while the internet can offer a lot of information, other Kiwi growers are the best source of knowledge because of our unique climate, with a lot of information out there based on the United States’ weather.

Ernie and Margaret said the society has been a family to them over the years, providing much more than advice on orchids alone.

Margaret said members also offer each other garden tours to visit their own growing practices.

“Because we’re a small number, we’re all friendly, we all go have a coffee and chat and things like that,” Ernie said.

“And not only in our club, you make friends in other clubs – Howick, Waitākere, Waikato and even North Shore clubs - we all get together and have a natter.”

The South Auckland Orchid Show will be on Saturday, September 03 from 10am until 3.30pm at the Pukekohe Memorial Town Hall.