With the weather getting warmer and April commonly known to bring rain, the darling buds of trees and flowers might start to make their appearance soon, if they haven’t already. However, for Moorestown resident Kathleen Dickey, she didn’t want her flower to bloom so late. She needed her orchid to bloom for the Philadelphia Flower Show, held earlier in the year from Feb. 28 to March 8.
Luckily for her, her phalaenopsis hybrid, also known as cascading orchid, bloomed at just the right time and earned her the honor of a blue ribbon at the flower show. For her first time competing at the Philadelphia Flower Show, Dickey won first place in phalaenopisis hybrid or species in the novice category.
“It was the first time I’ve entered the show. I entered my orchid, a cascading white orchid, which was very pretty. I have nurtured it for almost four years, and brought it to this point. It was great to win and celebrate the orchid; it was a happy time. I’m so happy with the joy it brought to everyone,” Dickey said.
Dickey’s love for plants and gardening began with her father. Growing up, he always had a wonderful garden, according to Dickey. As a child, she was consistently involved in the gardening and nurturing of plants.
Her love blossomed for gardening, which culminated with Dickey joining the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, based in Philadelphia. Working all over Philadelphia and her love for orchids, it just made sense for her to join with others who shared her love.
“I’m now excited to work with them and volunteer, it is a wonderful organization,” Dickey said.
Dickey was handed her award-winning orchid as a small, blossomless plant four years ago, struggling to survive. She repotted it, fertilized it and gave it humidity and moving air, nurturing it back to health. The orchid gained back its strength and bloomed many times for Dickey, lasting several months at a time.
From the encouragement and insistence of her horticultural society friends, Dickey decided to enter her flower. She originally was encouraged the previous year to enter, but Dickey felt it was too late to enter her orchid at that time. This year, with some extra care and the orchid blooming at just the right time, Dickey decided to enter.
It is a good thing she did, as she won first place. She didn’t find out about the win herself, either; a friend of a friend saw the award and sent her a photo of the orchid with a blue ribbon.
“I didn’t know what I would get. I was overjoyed. My friends were going crazy with my win. They were so proud with someone from the society winning. It was very exciting. I was glad to share it with all of those who encouraged me,” Dickey said.
Dickey would love to do the Philadelphia Flower Show again, but for now, she plans to stick to orchids and focus on growing and nurturing them for the next show.
