"David" wrote ...

Spider wrote:
Bob Hobden wrote:
Talking to a chap at the Orchid Society of GB show at Wraysbury this
morning it appears that McBeans Orchids of Cooksbridge, near Lewes, who
have been going since 1879 and have exhibited at every Chelsea Flower
Show finally closed their doors yesterday. Such a shame. We have already
lost Thatched Lodge Orchids at Aldermaston, Wylde Court Orchids near
Newbury, and Stonehurst near Wakehurst Place. Only leaves Burnham
Nursery in Newton Abbot, Devon and Laurence Hobbs Orchids in Crawley
Down, Sussex that I know of if you want anything out of the ordinary.


That's a real shame. I'm sure it's down to the supermarkets
force-feeding everyone with Phalaenopsis, that there's little interest
in different orchid types. I particularly like Cambria types and
Paphiopedilums, but I rarely see them.

I have been to Burnhams, but not Laurence Hobbs establishment yet. I'll
have to drop a hint to the chauffeur.

It is a shame, but orchid nurseries were going out of business long before
the supermarkets started selling Phalaenopsis.
It was several very large hikes in fuel prices that started the rot. the
same thing that took Richford's out of the house plant business.

Yes it was some years ago, actually decades for some, that the three I
mentioned, Thatched Lodge, Wyld Court and Stonehurst went. The latter was
also a good camellia nursery and grew some older varieties that are not seen
that much these days.
Still got a Zygopetalum that the boys at Thatched Lodge gave us, must be 25
+ years ago (at the time of the Woman's Peace Camp we had to drive past),
the nursery had a lovely garden too.

Found some info on Wyld Court....
http://www.tissuequickplantlabs.com/...hidshomenf.htm
When we used to go there it was an Eddy Young that was the grower.

I can remember paying £25 for a Phalaenopsis 30 years ago, a lot of money
then, and now they are in Sainsbury's at £5. No wonder the British growers
have suffered.

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK