THEY share a lifetime appreciation of Orchids, now Richmond father and son duo Graeme and Craig Scott-Harden will join forces to judge the Hawkesbury Orchid Society spring show.
The orchid show will take place at Richmond Marketplace from Thursday to Saturday, September 3 to 5 during shopping hours and feature some of the regions finest plants.
On show will be many different species of orchids, which Craig said would “put a rainbow to shame”.
The Scott-Harden men have been members of the Hawkesbury Orchid Society going on close to 35 years, and have progressed to be accredited judges of the Australian Orchid Council.
Mr Scott-Harden (Craig) said he never stops learning when it comes to orchids, saying there was always something new to see and experience.
“Even now there are still new species being discovered all the time! Added to this figure is some 70000 to 80000 manmade hybrids,” he said.
“Most people know of the four or five common types of orchids, large flamboyant blooms on stout plants like Cymbidiums and Cattleya’s, whilst in reality the diversity in plant and flower shape is immense.”
Mr Scott-Harden said the flowers themselves were just as diverse, coming in many shapes, forms and sizes.
He said even the perfumes the plants emit can range from the sweetest most intoxicating odours, to some of the most obnoxious odours know to man.
From the age of 17, Mr ScottHarden has been growing orchids with his father, and since then they have travelled though South America and Australia to view them in their natural environment.
“The growing of orchids is a wonderful pastime, and in my eyes second to none,” he said.
“There is nothing more relaxing after a hard day’s work than to just walk amongst my collection and unwind.”
The two Scott-Harden men will be judging the orchids at the Hawkesbury Orchid Society show this Thursday to Sunday, and the community is urged to get along to Marketplace to have a look.
