Wide Variety Of Blooms At Rose Show

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 22

Wide Variety Of Blooms At Rose Show

Just out of quarantine, 110 varieties of pelargoniums from America and Switzerland made their New Zealand debut at the Canterbury Horticultural Society’s annual rose show, which opened yesterday in Latimer Hall.

The large flowers which were about two inches in diameter had a range of colour identical with that of the roses in the show—from white to a deep red. They were shown by Mr L. E. Smith who was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's bronze medal for his exhibit. Several new rose varieties were on display, including the Tiki, which had just been named by the Irish rose expert, Mr S. McGredy. The Tiki is a deep salmon-pink blending to apricot at the base.

The recent cold weather had held the Tiki blooms back and they were still in the bud. Consequently it was not easy to get an indication of its maturity. At full bloom the Tiki will be larger than the McGredy yellow rose.

The show was one of the most colourful in some years. There was a wonderful variety of roses, cut flowers, shrubs and greenhouse plants, said the secretary, Mr J. C. Fraser.

In spite of the late, frosts and bad eather entries numbered 1139, and were about 40 fewer than last year. There were 15 new exhibitors.

The drawing-room class premier award was won by a beginner, Mrs W. Walters, with an attractive arrangement of red gladioli and carnations in a Hogarth line in a long-necked brass vase mounted on a black plinth. A typical New Zealand country occasion won the special occasion class. Called the “Woolshed Hop,” it featured an arrangement of foxgloves, manuka, gorse and broom, in a fire-blackened billy standing on a small bale of wool. A cascade of raw wool flowed down the side of the billy and onto the lid. Shearing shears and an enamel mug completed the design. Entries in the children’s classes were bigger than last year and were of an excellent standard, said Mr Fraser. Several new classes were added to the decorative section but entries were small in these. Abstract Class In stark contrast to the shimmering colours of the rest of the exhibits were the entries in the abstract class. Most displays used twisted

shapes of driftwood mainly in the dull grey and brown tunings. The emphasis was on traditional arrangements in the non-competitive “as you like it" class. One design which broke away from tradition attracted a great amount of spectator interest and comment.

This was a simple but effective arrangement of orchids, ivy and broom in two bronze-coloured vertical containers, one of which was standing on a brick. A bunch of bronzed grapes was laid between the containers. Standing on end, a bronzed tray gave the necessary balance; contrast was achieved most effectively by a green velvet background. The blue ribbon for the premier bloom in the open classes went to Dr. D. M. McIlroy’s Silver Lining. Dr. Mcllroy also won the Coronation Cup for the best group of six roses and the premier award in the special classes for National Rose Society members only with a Dorothy Peach rose.

The judge of the open rose classes, Mr N. E. Taylor, and the novice judge, Mr L. M. Wyles agreed that the standard of entries was very high considering the handicap of bad weather. There were more of the older varieties displayed this year, said Mr Taylor. Mr Wyles said it was pleasing to note that new exhibitors were showing up-to-date varieties. However, several very good entries were disqualified because exhibitors had not paid attention to the schedule rules.

SPECIAL AWARDS Blue ribbon, for premier bloom, Coronation Cup for best six roses in show, premier award in special classes N.R.S.: Dr. D. Mcllroy. Exhibition amateur: Mr W. J. Thompson’s Golden Giant. Decorative open: Mrs R. Donovan's La Jolla. Decorative amateur: Mr H. N. Pyne’s Josephine Bruce. Decorative special: Mrs R. Donovan’s Charlotte Armstrong. Decorative novice: Mrs C. H. S. Monro’s Michelle Meliland. Novice exhibition: Mr W. J. Thompson’s Stella. R.H.S. bronze medal: L. E. Smith’s display of pelargoniums. Award of merit for a display of Irises: P. J. Moore. Award of merit: G. Howden's Nurseries. Certificate of merit: Avenue Nurseries. Levin. ROSES Open (Judge: Mr N. E. Taylor.) Mrs P. E. F. Wyles. 3 firsts.

1 third; Dr. D. McDroy, 8 firsts. 2 seconds; E. Fisher van der Veere, « fixate. 1 second. 1 third; L. J. Jeffs, 3 finds. 3 seconds, 1 third; Mrs G. Smith. 1 first; Mrs T. Miller-Mead. 1 first: W. J. Thompson, 1 first; A. H. W. Roberts, 1 second: Mrs R. Donovan. 1 third: L. E. Kendall. 3 seconds. Amateur (Judge: R. C. Walker.) N. Weir, 2 firsts; H. N. Pyne, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third; Mrs R. J. Lamb, 3 firsts. 2 seconds. 1 third; Mrs R. Donovan, 1 first, 2 seconds, 2 thirds; W. J. Thompson, 1 first; Miss C. ORorke, 1 first; Mrs C. J. Jeffs. 1 first, 1 second. 2 thirds: A. H. W. Roberts. 1 second: Mrs R. M. Smith. 1 second; Mrs N. Le Cren, 2 thirds. Novice W. J. Thompson. 8 firsts. 1 second, 1 third: J. N. Oliver, 1 first. 1 second; Mrs C. S. H. Monro. 1 first; Mrs R. A. Halliburton, 1 first. 1 second; Mrs C. Gray, 1 second. 1 third; Miss B. Todd. 1 second. 1 third; Mrs R. E. Douglas, 1 second: A. C. Bascand. 1 second; M. J. Moffatt, 3 thirds. DECORATIVE Open (Judge: C. Bell-worthy.) Miss M. WaUing. 4 firsts. 1 second, 1 third; Mrs N. Galbraith. 3 firsts. 2 seconds. 1 third: Mrs J. Flecken. 1 first. 2 seconds- Mrs B Protheroe. 1 first, 3 thirds; Mrs R. M. Smith, 2 seconds; Mrs E. Hocken. 1 second; Mrs S. M. Harkness, 1 third. Beginners Mrs C. H. Larkcomb. 2 firsts. I second; Mrs F. Anderson. 1 first. 1 third; Mrs W. Walters, 1 first, 1 third; Mrs M. Lindsay. 2 seconds: Mrs C. Marsh, 1 second, 2 thirds. Children Barbara Burns, 2 firsts 1 second; W. P. Webber. 1 first. 1 third: Lei Goodwin. 1 second; Sue Wyles. 1 second: J. Thomas. 1 third: Margot Hamblett, 1 third; Wendy Goodwin, 1 third. Garden Clubs Papanui. 2 firsts. 2 seconds; Bam. 1 third; Wairarapa, 1 third. CUT FLOWERS Open Mrs N. Speary, 3 firsts; Mrs J. C. Fraser. 2 firsts. 1 second; Mrs H. T. Jennings. 3 firsts, 4 seconds. 1 third; Mrs F. W. Spedding 1 first, 1 third; R. J. Moriaty, 1 first. 2 thirds: Mrs M. W. Bevan, 1 first; Mrs I. Wood, 2 firsts. 3 seconds; Mrs E. Innes. 1 first; Mrs N. Le Cren, 1 first, 2 seconds, 3 thirds; Mrs J. Flecken. 1 first: Mrs R. J. Lamb, 2 firsts; Mrs A. Nicholls. 1 first; Mrs E. Harrington, 2 seconds, 1 third: Miss B. Wharton, 1 second; Mrs G. Smith, 2 thirds. Amateur Mrs T. E. Meager. 5 firsts. 2 seconds; Mrs N. Speary, 3 firsts; Mrs N. J. Forward, 1 first 1 second; Mrs M. Whitwell. 1 first; Mrs N. E. Taylor, 1 first, 1 second: Mrs G. Bashford. 2 seconds; Mrs F. W. Spedding, 3 seconds; Mrs R. T. Laurenson, 2 firsts 1 second, 1 third: Mrs S. Sarginson. 1 first: Mrs D. W. Walker. 1 first; Miss C. O'Rorke, 1 second; Mrs R. E. Goodwin, 1 third; Miss B. Wharton, 1 third; Miss B. Todd. 1 third; Mrs E. Innes, 1 third; Mrs J. A. Nisbit. 1 third. POT PLANTS Open Mrs H. T. Jennings, 1 first. I second; Mrs E. Hocken, 1 first; J. Byfleld, 1 third. Amateur Mrs E. Hocken, 4 firsts; Mrs N. J. Forward, 3 seconds; Mrs J. A. Nisbit. 1 third. FRUIT (Judges: Messrs R. A. Tilley. I. C. Harvey.) Mrs E. Innes, 1 first, 1 third; Mrs M. Whitwell, 1 first; J. Christian, 1 second. VEGETABLES Open (Judges: Messrs R. A. Tilley. I. C. Harvey.) J. Christian. 3 firsts 4 seconds, 5 thirds; Mrs M. Heap. 3 firsts, 1 second; Mrs E. Innes. 1 second: Mrs D. W. Walker, 1 second. Novice Mrs M. Whitwell, 3 firsts, 2 seconds; Mrs R. E. Douglas, 1 first, 1 second.