My Introduction to orchids at the London Orchid Show in the early nineties was an assault on the senses. The colours, the forms, the fragrances – the overwhelming variety of it all! I came away with a head full of bewildering names and an arm full of beautiful plants.

Thus began the challenge of graduating from learning to keep things alive to learning how to help them thrive. As OSGB members in those early years we reaped the benefit of readily-given advice from fantastic growers – especially to buy what you can grow (though sometimes the heart will still overrule the head).

We now keep a mixed collection with a lean towards cooler-winter-tolerant plants.