The Cooktown Orchid - in bloom and beautiful

The orchid seems to have a particular hold on people and none more so than the Cooktown Orchid which is a rare and beautiful sight.  


Chosen as Queensland’s floral emblem in 1959 by popular vote, the Cooktown Orchid (Dendrobium phalaenopsis) was seen to be unique, decorative, distinctive and easily cultivated.

 Found in northern Queensland, from Johnston River to Iron Range, these days it is rarely seen other than by orchid growers and enthusiasts.  The Cooktown Orchid blooms only in the months of April and May each year- a delicate and elegant flower about 3 to 6 cm wide and are normally deep to pale lilac/pink in colour. These plants can grow up to 80 cm in height and can have from 3 to 20 flowering canes.

Although it is found in tropical districts with very high summer rainfall, it is not a rainforest species but grows in exposed situations, usually attached to tree trunks such as paperbark melaleucas in savannah woodland or in vine thickets. Habitat alteration and indiscriminate harvesting by some commercial plant collectors have made this species rare or extinct in some places within its range, especially in the southern part.

Here in Cooktown these days it is hard to find although many people have them hidden in their gardens or high in the gum trees. The Botanic Gardens had placed some in a viewing area which were stolen and have now had to build a caged orchid house so that people can at least see them but not take. Sad that its come to this.

Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival

This year I am not working so much on the Cooktown Discovery Festival which took over my life for some 6 mths for the first part of last year.  This time I am being paid to do marketing and promotion of the famous Laura Dance Festival which is a great thing to work on.....despite the fact I have never been to it!

The culturally rich landscape of Laura in Far North Queensland is the setting for one of Australia's most well-established and vibrant cultural festivals. Generally acknowledged as the celebration and showcase of the culture of the Aboriginal Communities of Cape York Peninsula, the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival (LADF) is a unique event.

Only held every two years, the festival celebrates the traditional song, dance and culture of the Aboriginal people of Cape York Peninsula. The performance and practice of Aboriginal Dance & Culture at the Festival is an important element in the continuance of the unique culture of the region. The Festival allows the audience to experience the story telling and history of Aboriginal culture through dance, language and art primarily to ensure the integrity of the Festival’s vision. If you feel the urge come along and enjoy the fun....sit under a gum tree beside a river and watch the Aboriginal people from all over the cape come to together and dance!

see www.lauradancefestival.com