Write up and Photos courtesy of CVIOS member, Shaun Weber
I bumped into orchid growing in 1999 while living in Calgary. I was lucky enough to find Paramount Orchids before I moved back to Yellowknife, NWT in 2001.
An impressive and diverse array of orchids grown by Shaun despite the sub-arctic climate.
Growing orchids in the sub-arctic presented several challenges like low humidity (forced air heating), short day/low light levels, very cold windowsills, small children and worst of all, no orchids for sale (winter shipping not advised). Some problems were 'solved' by adding various lights and a large fish tank as a sort of Wardian case. My collection of orchids did slowly grow with orders from Paramount Orchids, Ebay, Clouds Orchids and trips to the Orchid Show in Edmonton. There was a fairly steep learning curve where many, many orchids perished and my ego suffered greatly but also successes and blooms. I think blooming a Cattleya (Laelia) purpurata in natural light was my highlight.
Due to my 'chatty' nature and a job as a CATV technician I met quite a few people in their homes and commented on their orchids. Often dispensing unwanted advice along the way. I became somewhat infamous locally (“please don't get him started”) and had a club of like-minded folk meeting a few times a year at the library meeting room discussing general orchid topics like general care and repotting. During slow news days I was on CBC Radio and featured in the local newspaper.
I have since moved to beautiful Courtenay, BC and have found that here, I among my kind of people - plant lovers.
Cypripedium passerinum
Editor’s Note - Thank you Shaun for sharing your orchid story! If you are a CVIOS member and have an orchid related story to share, please contact Melanie at melroga@telus.net. We would love to share your story and photos with our readers.