Green thumb honour

By CASEY NEILL
OLINDA green thumb Otto Fauser was surprised and thrilled to receive one of Victoria’s top horticulture honours.
The Ferny Creek Horticultural Society life member was recently awarded a Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria John Pascoe Fawkner Gold Medal for distinguished service to horticulture.
“There’s not too many people who get it,” he said.
“It was most unexpected. It was a big thrill.”
The German-born 74-year-old has loved plants all his life. His first memory is of seeing cyclamen and anemone in the wild.
Mr Fauser lived in Bentleigh when he first moved to Australia, but his interest in alpine flowers drew him to visit the hills for a flower show as a teen.
He soon joined Ferny Creek Horticultural Society and has now been a member for more than 50 years, enjoying working bees and cuppas with like-minded people.
President Sandra Seymour said Mr Fauser was undoubtedly one of Australia’s most knowledgeable plants-men.
“He recently had a new crocus species named after him, crocus fauseri, which goes to show the high regard with which he is held in the world-wide horticultural fraternity,” she said.
“He is not only an enthusiastic member of our society but is a foundation member of the Alpine Garden Society (Victorian Chapter) and a member of many alpine plants groups world-wide.”
Ms Seymour said Otto’s garden was a mecca for alpine plant enthusiasts.
“It is built on a steep slope and each level contains hundreds of unique plants and bulbs,” she said.
Mr Fauser received his award at Ferny Creek Horticultural Society’s 80th anniversary celebrations.
“We are one of a very few horticultural societies to have our own 10-acre ornamental gardens and our own purpose built hall,” Ms Seymour said.
The society holds four flower shows each year and a plant collectors sale and garden expo each March.
Members enter all events free and can attend special interest group meetings, a general monthly meeting covering various gardening topics, and access a comprehensive horticulture library.
Visit www.fchs.org.au or call 9755 1882 for more information.