The Benguet State University Orchidarium (BSU) marked its 10th anniversary last Oct. 29. Preceding the occasion was a series of contests participated in by grower-members of the cooperative, determining the best anthuriums, orchids, bonsai, cacti and succulents, flowering and fruit-bearing plants, as well as divisions judging the best indigenous growth as well as new species. Guest judges of the contest were members of the Cactus and Succulent Society who went all the way up north just for the occasion, as the BSU Orchidarium is considered a prime destination for plant lovers, buyers and growers, especially for succulents. Most of the members of the BSU Orchidarium have their cacti/succulent farms further north in Benguet but sell their prized specimens at the BSU Orchidarium. In the landscape contest, more than 80 percent of the entries were arranged using various cacti and succulents.
Yours truly was invited to give a pep talk of sorts to the cooperative. It was easy enough to do as everywhere you looked, all entries were truly inspirations to behold. The cooperative had just netted its first million pesos in collections since its formation 10 years ago, quite an achievement for a small industry. They remembered their humble beginnings as a group of 10 ornamental plant enthusiasts in La Trinidad, Benguet with overcrowded gardens making efforts to solicit space in their locality to display and sell their garden harvests in order to augment their income. They practically knocked down the door of Mayor Edna Tabanda until she acceded to their request, referring them to BSU president Cipriano Consolacion who spared them a swampy 2,006-sq.m. section of the university’s idle land, which took five long months to develop and make ready for use.
They’ve come a long way in 10 years. Now considered by collectors to be a slice of paradise, the BSU Orchidarium has become the place to go to find all manner of plant, rare and otherwise, especially for succulentophiles like myself. The BSU Orchidarium is located at Km. 5 La Trinidad, Benguet (behind Landbank).