The business started in Dec.1998 with brothers Trevor and Robert Garard,
growing a few Cymbidiums for the local pot plant market. With assistance
from Bill Fisher and Moss Bray our 'apprenticeship' was under way. In the
next few months a shadehouse was added and eventually held
1200 Cyms. and a few other genera. Bill,being a Zygo alliance fanatic,
suggested growing and hybridising Zygopetalums and allied plants so some
good quality stud plants were purchased as well as a collection of seedlings.Phalaenopsis
was the next genera added and a shed dedicated to warm growing
genera was constructed (see images below). With help from Moss and others
some Phals. were purchased and as our knowledge grew and the shed micro
climate was controlled well enough to grow deflasked seedlings, more small
plants were added. We decided to hybridise Phals. and a few Australian
native orchids so a lab was built to handle the seed sowing inhouse.
Since 2001 we have been the South Australian agents for Woolf Orchid Culture
and in 2003 we participated in the Australian Orchid Conference and Show
as both exhibitor and vendor.
In the past few years due to changing circumstances the number of large
plants,mainly Cyms, held in the nursery was reduced and our priority became
flask and seedling production along with seed sowing for external clients.
We have also started to acquire good clones of species plants for line
breeding and are very conscious of protecting endangered plants.In the
future as time permits we will again stock larger plants and reintroduce
Cyms. to the nursery.
Sadly, in 2005, our mentor and good friend Bill Fisher passed away leaving
the orchid world poorer for his passing. Bill was always ready to talk
about orchids and gladly passed on his knowledge,particularly in
regard to the Zygo.alliance. It is fitting that he be remembered
by having the Zygopetalum intergeneric ,Fisherara (which he developed)
and the grex Bill Fisher named in his honour.
Bill's son,Tony, and his partner Lynne have taken control of his collection
with a view to continuing his hybridising.
Rob insulating Phal.shed walls |
Benches & light filters added |
Trev with first Phals. |
Climate control,more plants |
First flower spikes |
Mature plants and our first seedlings |
Next door neighbour John, Rob and Bill examine the first repotted Cyms. |
Cyms.in new shadehouse. |
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