Lane Cove Hidden Gem – Lou Mayer The House of Phalaenopsis (aka orchids)

Lou Mayer Lane Cove Orchid grower

Blackman Park is one of Lane Cove’s most popular spots.  It has a wonderful bike park and on wintery Saturday and Sunday mornings 100’s of little kids can be seen running around in close packs following a round ball or an AFL ball.  In summer,Blackman Park is home to those who like to wear white and spend long days in the sun. To visit Blackman Park you must enter via Wood Street.  On the Corner of Wood Street and Lloyd Rees Drive is a little Lane Cove Gem.  It is Lou Mayer’s House of Phalaenopsis.

Blackman Park Lane Cove

 For years ITC has driven past this house and wondered what was inside the L Mayer the House of  Phalaenopsis

Lane Cove Orchids
What are Phalaenopsis? According to the NSW Orchid Society:

Phalaenopsis, the Moth Orchids mainly native to tropical East-Asia, are one of the best orchids for growing in the home, as well as a favourite with glasshouse growers, due to their long lasting showy flowers.

In a recent survey the Flower Association of Queensland, discovered that Queensland’s favourite flowers are rose, orchid, lily, gerbera, carnation, in that order.  This survey is backed up by information released by the Australian Flower Industry Association.

Last week, ITC knocked on the door of the L Mayer House of Phalaenopis and found inside two ITC Facebook Fans who love growing Orchids.  Lou and Judith Mayer have been married for 50 years and have lived in Lane Cove for 45 years.  Lou is a talented and award winning Orchid grower who has the most wonderful backyard filled with visual delights.  Lou was kind enough to take ITC  on a impromptu tour of their backyard.

Lou and judith Mayer Lane Cove
Here are just a few of the beautiful orchids I saw on my visit.

Beautiful Orchids L Mayer Lane Cove
Lou not only grows orchids, he also grows fruit and vegetables in his backyard and has hired a bee hive to help with pollination.  Did you know  there is a bee crisis?   According to Greenpeace:

Since the late 1990s, beekeepers around the world have observed the mysterious and sudden disappearance of bees, and report unusually high rates of decline in honeybee colonies.

Bees make more than honey – they are key to food production because they pollinate crops. Bumblebees, other wild bees, and insects like butterflies, wasps, and flies all provide valuable pollination services. A third of the food that we eat depends on pollinating insects: vegetables like zucchini, fruits like apricot, nuts like almonds, spices like coriander, edible oils like canola, and many more… In Europe alone, the growth of over 4,000 vegetables depends on the essential work of pollinators. But currently, more and more bees are dying. The bee decline affects mankind too. Our lives depend on theirs.

lane cove bee hive

We even found a little object that also appears in the Lane Cove Plaza.  Apparently it does a good job in the garden for Lou!!

IMG_1090

Thank you to Lou and Judith for letting ITC have a squizz around their garden.

If you would like to order some orchids here are the contact details:

The House of Phalaenopsis, 56 Wood Street, Lane Cove, Sydney, NSW Australia 2066. E-mail: [email protected]; Tel. +61 2 9427 3659

If there are any tips or questions you would like In the Cove to answer or investigate, please send us an email at [email protected]

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