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Henry Blencoe Matthews
Amateur orchid hunter and Northland farmer, Henry Blencoe Matthews (also known as H.B. Mathews) inherited his father’s love for orchids and wrote scores of letters to the Director of Auckland Museum, Thomas Cheeseman, in the early years of the 20th century. He also sent numerous specimens and photographs of New Zealand’s native orchids.
The Obsession Continues
The love of orchids has remained in the Matthews family. Direct descendent, Kevin Matthews, runs a dairy farm in Northland but on more days than not can be found searching out orchids. “Orchids are a little special and they draw you in. They are complicated, contrary, and confusing. They are challenging. They are delicate, they are beautiful and are exquisite. These are the things that incite passion in people to follow them.”
Kevin says he often tries to find those orchids identified by his forebears, but the real challenge is to try to get the perfect photo. “With the smaller flowers you always take a magnifier with you and the detail is absolutely magnificent. You need a macro lens on your camera. And that is one of aims, to detail that and photograph the orchid and express it to others.” |
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H.B. Matthews Collection, Auckland Museum
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H.B. Matthews to Cheeseman
Audio Clip (1:57)
Listen to letters H.B. Matthews wrote in the early 20th century.
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