Gracia Lewis

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Gracia Lewis (1911 — ) was a Singaporean orchid enthusiast and the vice-president of the Malayan Orchid Society.

Gardening[edit]

Lewis took up orchid growing in 1947.[1] She joined the Singapore Gardening Society in the following year, after meeting botanist Richard Eric Holttum.[2] Several years later, she worked at a grower's nursery in England during the Summer, where she learned to hybridise and grow seed.[1]

In 1953, Lewis was awarded the Banksian Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society. On 2 April 1954, she won the Singapore Flower Show for a second time. However, as no exhibitor could win first place in the show more the once in three years, she was instead awarded the R.H.S. Silver Gilt Medal.[3] In the same year, she exhibited her orchids at the Chelsea Flower Show. At the show, she won a gold medal and received two first-class certificates for her orchids.[4][5][6]

Her exhibition for the 1955 Singapore Flower Show was the largest exhibition at the show. For her exhibition, she won first place in the large-group orchids section.[7] In June, she raised more than $850 through the sale of her orchids at the English-Speaking Union's Midsummer Market in London.[8][9][10] At the 1958 Malayan Orchid Show, her Vanda miniata was declared the best flower at the show, and won her two prizes.[11]

By 1963, she had travelled to most of the orchid growing countries in the world, and had spent several years concentrating on collecting species of orchids in the jungles of Malaya, Borneo and Papua New Guinea. She had also become the vice-president of the Malayan Orchid Society and a member of the Award Judging Panel.[1] She had also hybridised several orchids, including the Aerides Amy Ede, which she named after her friend Amy Ede, a politician and pioneer of the orchid trade in Singapore.[12] At the fourth World Orchid Conference, which was held in Singapore in October 1963, she delieverd a speech on Malayan Orchid species.[1] By December 1985, there were seven orchid hybrids named after her.[2]

Personal life[edit]

Lewis was married to M. Lewis, an employee of Fraser and Neave.[4] She died sometime prior to September 1992.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Baptista, Esme (19 September 1963). "ORCHID TALK BY MRS. LEWIS". The Straits Times. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b Lum, Magdalene (3 December 1985). "The bloom on top". The Straits Times. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  3. ^ "She was too good to win top show prize SO SECOND-BEST GETS MEDAL". The Straits Times. 3 April 1954. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b "OUR ORCHIDS ON THE MAP". The Straits Budget. 28 October 1954. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  5. ^ "S'pore orchids a sensation". The Singapore Free Press. 26 May 1954.
  6. ^ "Mrs Lewis stole Chelsea show with her orchids 300 SPRAYS BY AIR THEY WON A FIRST CLASS CERTIFICATE". The Straits Budget. 3 June 1954.
  7. ^ "HER EXHIBIT WAS BIGGEST". The Straits Times. 2 April 1955. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  8. ^ "BRITONS GASPED AT HER ORCHIDS". Singapore Standard. 24 June 1955.
  9. ^ "Malayan orchids are big stars of British flower show". The Straits Times. 24 June 1955. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  10. ^ Eastley, Adelaide (27 June 1955). "Singapore Spotlight". The Singapore Free Press. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  11. ^ "PLANT WINS TWO PRIZES". Singapore Standard. 6 September 1958.
  12. ^ a b "'Vanda Amy' and cake for 1,000-when Amy weds". The Singapore Free Press. Singapore. 2 October 1953. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
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