The enthusiasm that Caleb Lamond has for orchids is contagious. Not for what he describes as the “big, blousey” cultivated varietals that immediately spring to mind, though.

The Lower Kaimai resident’s home is positively dripping with an extraordinary range of orchids – at last count more than 900 varieties that range in size from metres across to others that fit in the palm of a hand.

“I’ve been into plants for as long as I can remember,” says Caleb, wryly describing himself as having “always been a ‘plant nerd”.

“My earliest memories are of helping mum in the veggie patch, orchids growing in my grandparents’ garden and bush walks with dad on weekends.”

It was on those hikes that he first became enthralled by the tiny native orchids clinging to branches.

“A lot of people don’t notice them because you’d normally have to be looking up or down on your hands and knees to see them.

“Some are barely a centimetre off the ground in the moss on the forest floor so you really need to be paying attention,” says Caleb. “By the time I got to school, I already knew the names of the trees, so I became far more interested in the strange little plants that were hanging off them.”

As a teen Caleb began growing orchids while studying biology and botany “in fact any plant-related papers I could get my hands on” until graduating with a Bachelor of Science from Waikato University. As the new president of the Tauranga Orchid Society, Caleb’s highly regarded amongst other growers for his wealth of knowledge and how he mimics nature by growing his own orchids on wood.

“I have thousands and they’ve taken over half my living spaces,” he laughs. “I have orchids all through the house and around my garden. My preference is always to see native orchids in the wild but I do have a few species growing naturally on trees and rocks around the property. They started my interest and I still prefer the small interesting varieties over the big bright ones.”

Caleb Lamond surrounded by orchids. Photo: John Borren.

Caleb remains just as fascinated by orchids as he was 30 years ago and is keen to share his enthusiasm with others.

“Despite their fragile beauty they’re extreme plants that survive such hostile environments or whatever nature sends their way,” he says. “They grow where other plants can’t and, with unusual seeds that travel further than their pollen, they can move to a new habitat and create entirely new species. With such diversity, it’s the kind of hobby that you never get to see the end of. There are more species of orchid than the number of mammals, birds and reptiles combined.”

Now, Caleb’s time is filled with the care of his beloved orchids and creating hybrids.

“I’ve started dabbling with cross-pollination to see what interesting plants we come up with,” he says. “It’s hard to bring orchids into New Zealand so this is a way to share plants around and give other people the opportunity with different varieties. Hybrids are also often easier for beginners to cultivate.”

Anyone interested in growing orchids is invited to come along to the Tauranga Orchid Show this weekend or any of Tauranga Orchid Society’s monthly meetings. “Members bring plants along and we discuss their care and ask questions. It’s a great way to learn by talking to other people,” says Caleb. “Visitors are always very welcome.”

Tauranga Orchid Show is on September 6-7 from 10am–4pm daily at Tauranga Racecourse, Entry is $3 per adult and under-12s are free. See more at: https://taurangaorchids.wordpress.com

- SunLive