The Orchid Show held at the Enjoy Centre last weekend was definitely worth the visit.
Between seeing the different stages of showy blooms, the stunning colour combinations and the light fragrances, it was definitely an experience.
While visitors admired the sprays of striped, dotted and slipper orchids, numerous amateur and professional photographers carefully adjusted their lens to compensate for the sun’s shifting light in the Moonflower Room.
Darrell Albert, president of the Orchid Society of Alberta, estimated about 2,500 visitors showed up to admire the floral exhibits.
“It was an excellent show. There were excellent displays and lots of choices from vendors. Overall it was a success,” Albert said.
Ellen Bozarth-Brown was visiting family from Grande Prairie. Bozarth-Brown developed an unexpected passion for orchids eight years ago when her husband gifted her with one. Since then, her plant family has grown to five.
“I’m just enthralled with all these orchids. They’re fabulous. I keep saying I’d love to have them all,” she laughs.
Exhibits were set up with not only hundreds upon hundreds of botanical beauties, but also digital photographic displays and works of art detailing exquisite orchids.
Denise Chambers, an amateur photographer from Hinton, was spotted pointing and clicking at every display.
“I don’t grow orchids. But my girlfriend grows orchids and she invited me to come up here with her. My passion is photography and living near the Rockies, I do a lot of landscape photography,” said Chambers.
“I’ve always admired my friend’s orchid collection. I’m getting a good sense and I may think about starting. I had no idea there were so many different kinds of orchids.”
She was particularly enthralled with an educational photo exhibit displaying a small treasure trove of about 30 orchids that grow in Alberta.
“I’ve seen calypso orchids growing wild. That’s what we call the Venus Slipper Orchid. It grows in Switzer Park at the end of Jarvis Lake. They’re all along a walking trail in May and June.”
“This has really caught my interest. I didn’t know we had so many varieties.”
