Max Ricks Recollections

Natives Orchids of the Cherry Gardens District.

There are over 100 species of native orchids which have been found in the Adelaide Hills and the Cherry Gardens area is rich in the number of varieties which have been discovered. There is a wide range of types of Orchids, from the small Corybas which only stand about 2 centimetres high, to the tall Prasyphillums which can grow nearly hip high.

Various species can be vastly different in type. Many have a single flower, while others have multiple flowers spreading up the vertical spike. Each variety flowers at its own particular part of the season and native Orchids can be found in Cherry Gardens at every month of the year.

There was a great interest shown in these orchids by the early settlers, and stories were told of the density of which orchids could be found. It has been said that various varieties grew in such abundance that the colour of a particular type could be seen from one hill to another.

I have seen this in reality some seventy years ago. (1940’s) Orchids can be preserved in different ways. Taking colour photos with a close-up lens is wonderful. Also preserving them between sheets of blotting paper (absorbent paper) for 4-6 weeks, the colour is retained well, and the dried product can last a life time or more. Drying in sand is also possible, first select washed sand which should be sifted through fly wire and baked in an oven for half an hour or so. When cool lay the orchid in a shallow box and carefully cover it with the sand, leave to dry for a couple of months and the flower will hold its form indefinitely. Unfortunately, with the clearing of original native vegetation a great many orchids have been lost.

Orchids are now a protected species and should not be picked. As young children, my brother Charles and I spent a lot of time during the weekends etc. walking through the hills and gullies looking for Native Orchids. These orchids were so thickly distributed in our youth (1930- 1940) that every walk would bring more discoveries. Most residents in the district had a very real appreciation of these orchids and much discussion was centred on them. As we grew older and became eligible to drive a vehicle, we would take trips to surrounding areas where different varieties grew. At this time Charles had purchased 2 to 3 acres of scrub land from our next-door neighbour Ern Strange.

On our trips to other local areas, we would dig up orchids using a little ten centimetre wide spade, together with a bucket of the surrounding soil we would plant them on Charles’ block of land. This worked very well, and we were able to grow many more different varieties of orchids. I must point out that Government legislation for the protection of native vegetation now prevents this taking place.

During this period of time we took many close-up photographs and made a collection of pressings of all the different species we found. These are still in good order at this time. (2011). Charles’ scrub block has long since been sold off and is now used for housing.