Orchid enthusiast clubs of the Sub-Tropical Orchid Council of Queensland, located from Bribie Island to Gympie, will be taking part in the Noosa District Orchid and Foliage Club Spring Show at Cooroy next month.
Plants will be on sale and expert advice can be gained from champion growers like Julie and Gavin Menkens whose lives have been intertwined with their involvement in plants.
Julie and Gavin met in 2013 and discovered they both had a love of gardening. Julie moved to the Sunshine Coast in early 2014 bringing many plants with her.
Late in 2014 Gavin had a burst brain aneurysm which put him in hospital for many months.
Once he was able, he joined the Noosa Men’s Shed and transformed their gardens – so much so Julie and Gavin chose in 2017 to marry at the Men’s Shed surrounded by the beautiful gardens.
They purchased a house in Tewantin which was a corner block surrounded by overgrown gardens. Gavin transformed these weeds into a fabulous garden and there was just enough room in the yard for a shade house which Julie soon filled with orchids, ferns and other foliage plants.
They caught the orchid bug when John Green from the Noosa District Orchid and Foliage Society was giving a potting demonstration at the Botanic Gardens. Julie is now secretary of the society and Gavin is a willing worker on the committee.
The club meets on the first Saturday of each month at the Tinbeerwah Hall.
The Spring Show will be held at the Memorial Hall, Maple St, Cooroy on Friday 16 September from 8.30am to 4pm and Saturday 17 September from 8.30am to 2pm. Presentation of prizes will be at 2.30pm
Entry fee $4, raffle tickets $1. For more information on the club contact Dave Lyons on 0419 722 104.
