"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/wyldcourtorchidshomenf.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