This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
Kenya's Orchid Show: A Celebration of Beauty and Diversity ¶
October 17, 2019
The 62nd Orchid Show, themed 'The Vintage Collection,' has opened at Nairobi's Sarit Centre, featuring over 20 exquisite orchid displays and a school arts competition.
Orchids are one of the most celebrated plants on the planet, renowned for their glorious beauty, diversity, and complexity. They can grow almost anywhere, and nowhere are more exquisite orchids grown than in Kenya.
The exhibition hall is brimming over with more than 20 exquisite orchid displays, all of which were in competition for a wide array of trophies. Eight judges, headed by senior judge Michael Tibbs, spent hours appraising every flower and floral display.
Heather Campbell, a lifelong orchid society member aged 91, was among the attendees. She has been a member since 1964 and has judged past orchid shows for several decades. 'I've been a member since 1964 when my family first moved to Kenya,' she says.
Heather's display, like many others, was a testament to the vintage theme. 'I prefer old orchids that have been looked after well more than I do newer hybrids that are grown badly,' she says. Michael Tibbs, a qualified judge of orchids, agrees that the Kenya orchid show never fails to amaze him with the quality of members' orchids and their dazzling displays.
One of the standout displays was a Mercedes Benz from the late 1950s, filled with a beautiful display of orchids. The owner also had opened up his Mercedes' boot and filled it with even more pots that host more multicoloured plants.
Another display featured an antique bicycle with carriers filled with exotic species of orchids. A wooden sculpture of an ancient African man seated amid a gorgeous orchid display also caught the eye.
The school arts competition, organised by Jackie Guest, received 750 entries from 23 schools across the country. The youngest artists to take part were six years old, and the oldest 19.
When asked about the idea behind the art competition, Jackie says, 'The idea is to get young people interested in orchids and the environment generally.'
The exhibition will run through Sunday at Nairobi's Sarit Centre.
