Singapore Orchids Arrive At Ellerslie Flower Show

November 12 2005

Rare Singapore Orchids Arrive At Ellerslie Flower Show

A world expert on rare scented Singapore orchids will touch down in New Zealand next week - with a special consignment set to wow Ellerslie Flower Show audiences.

The 64sqm of exotic orchids will be part of the exhibit created by award-winning designer Murray Lye in the Twinings Floral Marquee.

The orchids will take centre stage on the Show's opening day, Wednesday November 16, as international orchid expert J B Tay presents to visitors during his presentations.

Tay's topics will include; the cultivation of these world-class flowers, the intricacies of orchid cloning and how to identify the best in orchid hybrids.

Singapore-based Tay is the OSSEA (Orchid Society of South East Asia) Awards judging secretary and in charge of training OSSEA judges.

One of the varieties being brought to New Zealand is returning to its roots - the Aranda Peter Ewart orchid was named after the son of Jon Ewart, a New Zealander who was once the curator of Singapore's world-famous National Orchid Garden.

With a population of around four million people, Singapore has been a centre for orchid hybridisation and culture since before World War II. This is due to a long collaboration between the Singapore Botanic Gardens and The Orchid Society of SE Asia (OSSEA), formerly the Malayan Orchid Society, which was founded in 1928.

Many of these hybrids are now rare, and are preserved in only a few sites in Singapore. But they represent a rich orchid heritage, and were important to the establishing of a cut flower export industry as well as a thriving amateur society of hobby growers.

The Twinings Floral Art Marquee's commitment to floral education will be evident through many other international floral flavours, such as floral artist, Fumiko, director of the International Flower Academy in Japan.

The Ellerslie Flower Show 2005 promises to be Like Never Before, with innovation, inspiration and floral delights to warm even the coldest gardening heart! The Show will spring into bloom from 16-20 November. Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketek outlet, by contacting 09 307 5000 (or your local Ticketek number) or via the website www.ticketek.co.nz

ENDS

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