Tiny gift blooms into life-long passion
Hendrelien was first introduced to orchids more than 40 years ago and after all this time, her passion for the treasured plants has only continued to grow.
SOMETHING as small as a gift from a friend soon grew into a deep-rooted love for all things orchid related for Hendrelien Peters.
Hendrelien is, on paper, a trained history, geography and physical education teacher, but her heart found its passion when she moved down to Durban from the Free State in 1970.
It was then that she was first introduced to the diverse and beautiful orchid plant.
She worked at a bank for 10 years, became a mom and played housewife and worked in her own garden for about 20 years.
“My mother used to tell me that I would kill a mother-in-law’s tongue if I ever put my hands on it,” she chuckled.
“It was my gran and aunt who were the great gardeners in the family, so I suppose some of the genetics washed down to me.”
Makaranga Garden Lodge was the first to reap the benefit of her vast knowledge of the species as she was its orchid curator for seven years. She later took on a similar role at the Durban Botanic Gardens.
The Highway Mail was lucky enough to be one of the few to witness the vast beauty of the nursery at the prestigious Durban landmark.
Before the plants are displayed in the orchid house, they are cared for and nurtured in the large nursery.
More than 7 000 orchids from various species from across the globe can be found hanging from the ceiling or potted on one of the many rows of tables dotted across the plant sanctuary.
“There are 35 000 known species throughout the world, about 400 000 man-made hybrids and more than 5 000 books have been written on orchids. Then you need to know how to grow them and the micro climates the require. That is the big knowledge behind getting these plants to flower. You have to have a complete change of mindset when you grow orchids, otherwise you will kill them,” she laughed.
Hendrelien is a member and judge for the South African Orchid council, the overriding body for all of the orchid societies in the country.
She became a judge in 1985 and is still an active judge at the age of 70.
In her spare time she is also the editor for the group’s national magazine, a position she has held for the past four years.
“Besides all this, there is a judging school where I teach the new judges – a course that can take about five years to complete – as well as prepare all of the data for them. This is something I have done for the past 20 years,” said Hendrelien.
As all of this work is voluntary, she was awarded a medal for her service to the organisation.
Her continued love and passion for the plants stems from the diversity it offers.
“We have some here at the Gardens from the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, they have six months of rainfall and then a further six months of bone dry weather. If you don’t give them that weather, they won’t flower. This is what drives me to continue my work,” said the impassioned orchid enthusiast.
