General News
1 November, 2025
Summer show in bloom
STAWELL Orchid Society’s highly anticipated Summer Show is on again this weekend, with orchid enthusiasts from all over this side of the state set to converge on Stawell Senior Citizens Rooms in Victoria Street for the two-day event. The show is a great opportunity for people to drop in and ask questions about orchids, pick up growing tips and meet new friends, as well as appreciate the huge variety of orchids grown by society members. Society secretary Warren Nightingale is looking forward to welcoming people to the group’s Summer Show.
“It’s the last show of the year, before virtually everyone loses all their flowers,” said Mr Nightingale.
“It’s probably been going for just as long as what the club has been going, this summer show.
“It started off with about half-a-dozen blokes standing around talking, and then they decided to build a club, and it’s gone on from there, it’s a good thing.”
Mr Nightingale said being a part of Stawell Orchid Society gave him access to insight and knowledge about the unique characteristics of so many different types of orchids.
“Some require a lot of heat and humidity, where some others like the cool,” he said.
“You’ll see a whole diverse range of orchids, and different age groups of people that are growing them,” Mr Nightingale said.
“This show, we’ll have members selling plants, and on the Sunday around 1.30pm we’ll have what’s called a re-potting demonstration.”
Mr Nightingale said unseasonally volatile weather conditions had made orchid growing somewhat unpredictable this season.
“It’s a crazy year for them this year, because some are flowering now that should have been flowered two months ago,” he said, “And some that should be flowering next month are flowering now.”
Mr Nightingale has been a member of the Stawell Orchid Society for as long as he’s lived in Stawell.
“I got involved because I moved over from Bendigo and I had no idea what to do for a hobby,” he said.
“My wife noticed that the orchid meeting was on, so I went to have a look because I’ve always liked orchids and my dad up in Queensland grew a few.
“I walked home that night as a new member, and now it’s been 17 years.”
“This year I noticed in our spring show, which was grand final weekend, we found we didn’t have as many varieties or genre of orchid because of the weather changes.”
The Stawell Orchid Society – Summer Show, is on tomorrow 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 10am to 3pm, at Stawell Senior Citizens Rooms, Victoria Street, Stawell.