On this day in 2023, a blue plaque was installed in St Albans to commemorate the life of "Orchid King" Frederick Sander.
The plaque was unveiled during a ceremony at the site of Frederick's first shop, located at 21 George Street, which is currently occupied by Trinder.
Sixteen descendants of Frederick Sander attended the event, including his great-granddaughter Anne Sander.
At the time, mayor of St Albans Anthony Rowlands and mayoress Annie Stevenson were also present, alongside the property owner Hans Pistor and tenant Marc Trinder.
They all signed a copy of Arthur Swinson's biography of Frederick Sander, which was gifted to the family by Blue Plaques St Albans.
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To mark the occasion, Trinder decorated its shop front with orchids and a painting by Cathedral Artist in Residence Ant Steele.
Frederick Sander established his George Street business selling seeds in 1875. He later acquired four acres of land in the Camp, where he built numerous greenhouses for selling orchids.
He published a book titled Reichenbachia, named after German orchidologist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach, which featured text and illustrations of orchids.
Frederick passed away in 1920 while visiting Bruges and was brought home to be buried at Hatfield Road Cemetery.
[From the Herts Ad of July 13, 2023]
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