The Bromeliad Society of Australia will hold its next meeting at the Federation Pavilion, Castle Hill Showground, Castle Hill, on Saturday, 14th November. The meeting starts at 11.30am, and the doors open earlier to the public, with plant sales from 10am.
With Halloween only just behind us, the society has chosen Black Bromeliads as its theme. Members usually celebrate how colourful their plants can be, from reds, pinks and yellows to bright and dark greens, with a few showing a bluish tinge. Some are variegated, spotted or striped, and sizes range from a few centimetres to giants more than a metre and a half across. This meeting turns to the darkest end of the range.
The leaves are not truly black, but they come very close. President Ian Hook and Vice President Kerry McNicol will explain why the plants colour up this way, how to keep them looking their best, and where to find them.
Examples include Aechmea ‘Black Opal’ and Vriesea ‘Black Hawaiian’, along with dark red, deep purple and near-black Neoregelia hybrids such as ‘Black Satin’. Some of these may be available through club members, so visitors to the plant sales may leave with something unusual.
Regular activities will also go ahead: competitions, a raffle, and Show & Tell. A newer segment, simply called Show, lets people share a plant without judging or discussing it.
For more information, contact Ian Hook, President of the BSA, on 0408 202 269 or at [email protected]. Updates are posted at www.bromeliad.org.au.
