DAHLIA SHOW OPENS

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32232, 26 February 1970, Page 8

DAHLIA SHOW OPENS

Hundreds of vibrant dahlia blooms, ranging from varle* ties measuring 10in diameter to dainty pompones of less than Zin in diameter, attrac* tive formal and abstract decorative exhibits, and interesting displays of fuchsias, dahlias, geraniums and pelargoniums are included in the Canterbury Horticultural Society's annual two-day dahlia show which opened in the Horticultural Hall yesterday. This year 949 entries have been received for the show, 47 more than last year. They include 592 dahlia exhibits. 12 more than last year, 89 decorative entries (103). 72 garden club displays <46>, 40 cut flowers ‘52), 29 pot plants (55) and 127 fruit and vegetables (66>. Dutch Giant, a pale orange giant semi-cacti dahlia measuring more than lOin in diameter was judged the premier bloom in the show. The bloom, which has been imported from the Netherlands, was exhibited by Mrs T. E. Meager, of Christchurch. Mrs Meager also won the premier award for the best medium decorative dahlia and the best medium semi-cactus. Although dahlias predominate at the show, there is a wide range of cut flowers, including roses, zinnias, gerberas, bottlebrush. carnations, lilies, gladoli. chrysanthemums and delphiniums and three special exhibits. The outstanding special display is a garden of fuchsias, including hanging plants, ponds of fuchsia blooms and a small lawn pathway, set up in the middle of the main hall by the Canterbury Horticultural Society’s recently-formed Fuchsia Circle. This exhibit, which won the society's silver medal, includes such varieties as White Spider. Keystone, Ballet Girl, Perfection, Sheryl Ann. Vogue, Crackerjack. Violet Gem, Rufus. Red Shadow, Checkerboard, Abbe Farges, Tropicana, Pink Galore and Cascade. At the edge of the display are miniature rock fuchsias and mingled with the larger varieties are ferns and ivy. A T-shaped display by the St Martins Nursery. Christchurch, was awarded the Canterbury Horticultural Society’s certificate of uerit. It includes mainly fuchsias, geraniums and pelargoniums. More than 60 varieties of dahlias are included in a display by Eddie Howard, Colombo Street, who was awarded the Canterbury Horticultural Society’s certificate of appreciation. The 89 decorative exhibits arranged round the hall form an attractive background to the dahlias and add interest to the show. A great deal of time and thought has obviously been put into many of the arrangements and this is reflected in the unusual and clever use of the flowers. The blue ribbon award for the most outstanding decorative exhibit was won by Mts S. Coull with an arrangement of native plants titled “Flowerless Beauty.’’ This simple yet striking exhibit was arranged against a background of brown linen. Five scarlet nerrines, six pale leaves and a twisted branch arranged against a deep purple background won the award for the most outstanding contempary arrangement for Mr F. H. Hollingworth. Twelve decorative Flemish period arrangements entered by garden clubs form an interesting display on the stage of the hall. The winning exhibit bv the St Martins-Opawa Garden Club includes a large bowl of brilliantly coloured flowers, including roses, carnations, hydrangeas, lilies and da,hlias. Arranged at the base of the bowl are groups of. fruit and a bird’s nest. An interested visitor to the show yesterday was Mrs A. Kerlin, of the Royal Horticultural society in Queensland. Mrs Kerlin, who has been showing flowers for more than 30 years and judging for about the last 10 years, said that depth, balance and composition were important points in all decorative exhibits. It was important too that the vase was not overcrowded. Results were: PREMIER AWARDS Champion Blue Ribbon: Mrs T. E. Meager. Best giant decorative- R. E. Walker; Best giant semi-cactus. Mrs T. E. Meager; Best large exhibition cactus; R. E. Walker; Best medium decorative; Mrs T. E. Meager; Best medium semi-cactus; Mrs T. E, Meager: Vase small decorative; R. E. Walker; Vase miniature decorative: B. D. Buckley: Vase small cactus or semi-cactus: B D. Buckley: Vase miniature cac tus or semi-cactus: Mrs F. R Wilson; Vase large fimbriated cactus or semi-cactus: R. E Walker; Vase small fimbriated cactus or semi-cactus: I. A Thompson; Vase nymphaea: R

E. Walker; Vase Pompon: G. S. Gunn. DAHLIAS Open (Judges: Mr J. R. Farthing and Mrs C. Sewell,

1 Mrs T. E. Meager, I first; Mrs J. C. Fraser, 2 firsts, 2 seconds. ’ 1 third: G. S Gunn, 14 firsts, 6 1 ' seconds. 1 third. B. D. Buckley, • 9 firsts, 5 seconds, 1 third: Mrs • V. Hutton. 1 first, 1 second. 1 ’ third: E. Yates. 1 first; Mrs F. R. Wilson. 1 first: Mrs E. G. ■ Collett. 1 second t Garden Club Class— Shirley- - St Albans Garden Club 1. • Wairarapa Garden Club 2 and » 3. Special Classes.—National e Dahlia Society members: Mrs T. ; E. Meager. 2 firsts. Fraser ». trophy: Ashburton Horticultural: 2 Society 1, C H S. Dahlia Circle. 2. Addington Workshops Hortin cultural Society 3. A Amateur 7 (Judges: Mr E. G Collett and Mrs T. E. Meager) 5 B D. Buckley, 1 third; R. E. T Walker. 9 firsts, 2 seconds, 2 « thirds; Mrs R E Hastie, 1 first, h 1 third; A. E Kelman, 1 first, e 3 seconds, 1 third: R. A. Lowe, v 1 first, 1 second: M. C. Hooper, 5 firsts. 7 seconds; R Luisetti, n 1 first, 4 seconds, 7 thirds: J. st G. Watson, 1 first, 1 second: d R. S. Rossiter, 1 second. 1 u third; Mrs F. R Wilson, 1 first, . 1 third. i e Novice ' (Judges: Mr S. L. Holmes and p . . Mrs L. B. Allan) i. D. R. Angus. 2 firsts. 2 1- seconds; Mrs P. Warren, 1 first, tl 1 second, 1 third; Mrs S. A Hail, 3 firsts, 4 seconds, 5 R- thirds; Mrs I. A. Thompson, 3 s, firsts: S. Leeson, 1 first. 1 Is second, 1 third; Mrs G. A. War--11 riner, 1 second. !* DECORATIVE , «P«" , (Judges: Meidltnei M. J. P. Glasgow. D .0. McLachlan. e J. Dowie and D. J. Dwyer) !S Mrs L. E. Smith. 1 first. 3 r. seconds, 2 thirds: Mrs G. H. c- Thornton, 2 firsts; Mrs K. Allen. s. 1 first: Mr F. H. Hollingworth, s. 2 firsts: Mrs A. J. L. Williams. I. 1 first; Mrs A. M. Cross, 1 h first, 1 third: Mrs D. L. I. e Enomitt. 1 first, 1 third: Mrs e J. R. Bain, 1 first. 1 third: Mrs h M. E. Teear, 1 first; Miss D. L. is Hooper. 1 first, 1 second. 1 third: Mrs H. A. Steel, 1 second: St Mrs T. Crampton. 1 second, li third: Miss M. S. Wickens, 1 V second: Miss P. Brooker, 1 1- second: Mrs H. R. Sinclair, 1 S’ second: Mrs G A. Warriner. 2 r- seconds; Mrs R. M. Cover, 1 third. Garden Club Classes. —St y Martins-Opawa Garden Club 1. 0 Riccarton Garden Club 2. e Leeston Garden Club 3. .. Beginners • Mrs K. S. Tonks, 3 firsts: Mrs s A. M. Cross. 1 first: R. Law. 1 n first: Mrs S. Coull, 1 first: Mrs . M Wellbourn, 1 first, 1 second: i e Mrs H. R. Sinclair, 1 second; | Mrs A J. L. Williams, 1 second: it Mrs K Allen, 1 second: Miss s S McGhie. 1 second: Mrs N. e Hayward. 1 third: Mrs E. Meers. e 2 thirds: Miss P. Brooker, 1 third. c Children e Peta Marie Callahan. 2 firsts; II Debra Anderson. 2 seconds. e CUT FLOWERS is Open i- (Judges: Messrs J. O Taylor d and S. W. Gower) n Mrs T. E. Meager. 3 firsts: . Mrs I A. Thompson, 2 firsts. 3 h seconds. 1 third: W. McNickell. e 1 first, 2 seconds. 2 thirds: G. , r S. Gunn. 2 firsts: J. N. Oliver, 1 first: R. B. Prebble. 1 second. I 1 third; Mrs N. Hayward. 1 ' second; Mrs O. Burbery, t h second: M. J. Staunton. 1 v second. >. Garden Club Class.—Cashmere ,< Garden Club 1. St MartinsII Opawa Garden Club 2. Shlrleyn St Albans Garden Club 3. >f POT PLANTS t- Open ». Mr and Mrs R. McAlister, 4 s- firsts. 3 seconds, 3 thirds: Mrs .e O. Burbery. 1 second; Mrs S. <* A. Edwsrds, 1 third. ~ FRUIT , Open ,1 (Judges: Messrs E. Taylor and “ H. G. Gilpim ig Mrs A. G. Lake. 2 firsts. 1 •S second. 1 third; M. J. Staunton, >t 4 firsts. 2 seconds, 2 thirds: Mrs 1* M Heap, 3 firsts, 1 second, 1 >• third; P Wickham. .1 second; ’e Mrs J. Geddes, 1 second. L° vegetables Open (Judges: Messrs E. Taylor and H. G. Gilpin) E. P. Barker. 11 firsts. 5 seconds. S thirds: Mrs J. Bruce. . 1 first; A. Rodgers, 8 firsts, 17 ?! seconds. 7 thirds: M. J. Staun- . ton, 1 first. 4 thirds; Mrs M. Heap. 1 first, 1 second, 2 thirds: , S. W. Gower. 1 first: Mrs S. A. Edwards. 1 first, 1 third: T. C. “ Emmitt, 1 first; P. Wickham, 1 first, 2 seconds, 1 third. ■e Special Award se Challenge trophy for most 8. points in all sections and trophy c- for most points in the dahlia 8. section. Mr G. S. Gunn; trophy ;d for the most points in amateur E. classes and for most points in ■d medium, small and miniature A. classes (amateur section). Mr K. R. E. Walker.