"A World Orchid Show is one of the biggest flower shows held anywhere in the world - and comparatively bigger than the famous Chelsea Gardens Show held annually in the UK," said Pumla Ntsele, deputy director of Joburg Tourism's Convention Bureau.
The exhibition is open to the public and tickets can be purchased online from www.woc21.org. Special discounts for school groups, clubs and retirement homes are also available via the website.
A show of this size traditionally requires an exhibit space for plants and flowers in excess of 10,000m2 and is generally attended by 100,000 local visitors. The event is organised and staged on a non-profit, not-for-gain basis, with all surplus proceeds to benefit South Africa's endangered biodiversity.
Running concurrently with the World Orchid Conference & Show, the following major events will also be presented at the Sandton Convention Centre:
The World Orchid International Botanical Art Competition has attracted well over 100 entries with international competitors from Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, UK, Germany and the Netherlands. Two of the artists will be travelling to South Africa in September for the 21st WOC & Show.
This competition has been organised and curated by Gillian Condy, of the South African National Biodiversity Institute, herself a world-recognised botanical artist. This effort shows the vast range of interests at play with orchids as their theme.
All the art will be on view at the SCC from 10-14 September with many of the works for sale, with a benefit to the 21st WOC Trust.
