Diane and Richard Cavanagh have four daughters, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild, but their family extends much further. Over the past 30 years the couple has collected more than 300 orchids, which they love and care for as dearly as their own children. Teagan Bell chats with them about their love affair with all things orchids and asks Richard for his top growing tips.Pictures: Ben Gross
SITTING at their kitchen table Richard and Diane Cavanagh chat about their latest visit to an orchid show. It was in St Arnaud, held by one of 11 Victorian country orchid clubs gathering to celebrate the colourful, fragrant blooms.
“The club that hosts it changes from year to year – next year we’re in Ballarat and our turn is in 2024,” Diane explains.
Sunraysia Orchid Club was created in the early 1970s and Diane and Richard have been active members since 1994, with Diane this year celebrating 21 years as secretary and Richard having served 10 years on and off as president.
Their love for orchids dates back to the late 80s, when Richard was given some and faced the decision of what to do with them.
“I said ‘If I don’t do anything with them, I’m going to either burn them or throw them away’,” he recalls.
A shade house was eventually built for the seemingly dull plant, which finally bloomed the following summer.
Since then, Richard and Diane have shared a passion for orchids, amassing an ever-expanding collection at their Mildura South property.
Pots of various species decorate their kitchen, lounge and dining room.
In their backyard, an orchid house the size of four standard city buses protects 300 orchids at various stages of flowering and a “solar house” fitted with electric heaters insulates those not suited to Sunraysia’s semi-arid climate.
“When they start flowering, you just look at the them and think ‘I could grow more of those’,” Diane laughs.
“Every show we go to they always have orchid sellers and I always tell myself we’re not buying any more but we do every time.”
When asked about their favourite species, cymbidium, loved for its endless range of colour and ability to grow in harsh climates, is the first to be discussed.
“The cattleyas are beautiful too,” Richard says, pointing to a plant with two saccharine pink flowers on their kitchen island.
“They do take a bit more looking after though — quite a bit.”
But Diane insists their adoration of orchids isn’t based solely on their beauty.
“We just love being able to show people what we’re growing,” she says.
“We don’t really worry about winning prizes or anything — it’s just being able to talk to people and share the passion.”
At the moment, the couple are preparing for the next show on their calendar, the Sunraysia Orchid Club’s biannual winter show.
Held at Mildura Central over three days beginning Friday, it brings the shopping centre to life with a magnificent display as well as potting demonstrations and chances for people to buy orchids of their own.
For those considering adopting an orchid, Diane has one piece of advice.
“Just give it a go,” she says.
“If it isn’t growing, keep moving it around your house until you find a spot where it flowers. Don’t give up.”
