Colourful display at C.H.S. dahlia show

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32849, 24 February 1972, Page 5

Colourful display at C.H.S. dahlia show

Outstanding giant blooms, up to 14 inches in diameter, contrasted with delicate tiny pompoms at the Canterbury Horticultural Society’s two-day dahlia exhibition which opened at the Horticultural Hall yesterday.

Flamboyant hues of bright orange, yellow, purple and red were mingled with the more subtle shades of pastel pink, mauve and white, when hundreds of dahlias, as well as many other colourful cut flowers, were displayed.

"In spite of a very dry season, the quality of the dahlias has been well maintained,” said Mr O. D. Sewell, from Timaru, who judged the amateur section of the blooms.

“There are some magnificent giant blooms in both the open and amateur sections which stand out for their size, depth, freshness and firmness of colour,” said Mr Sewell. “Giant blooms appear only in a limited number each season, and therefore they must be grown to perfection to achieve any recognition,” he said. “The premier giant bloom in particular, the pink “Mason’s Magnificent,” is a glorious achievement.” “This is generally recognised to be the dahlia show of the year in Canterbury, and it has certainly lived up to its reputation.”

Ail eight varieties of dahlia—the giant, medium, small and miniature blooms, the pompom, fimbriated (with split petals), nymphae (with four rows of flat petals) and the collarettes (with one row of flat petals and smaller petals on the inside)— were on display at the show, providing a great range of colour and shape. NEW VARIETIES Many newly-developed varieties were on display. Among them were Tui Sunset, a new exhibition cactus bloom in salmon and gold; Tui Ullva, a locally raised small bronze decorative bloom; Aldan Galaxy, a wine red medium decorative bloom; Alvas Snow, a small white decorative bloom raised from seed in New Zealand; Hallista Model, a light lemon medium cactus; White Klankstadt, a small white cactus bloom; Vanessa, a lilac-pink small cactus bloom; Bride’s Bouquet, a small white cactus bloom with a lemon centre; Cyclamen Joy, a medium decorative; Alloway Cottage, a cream medium decorative with a heliotrope centre; Mick, a small

• lavender cactus bloom; and Alloway Morine, a lavender pink bloom with a gold tip. Jennifer Mane, a raspberry--1 coloured miniature decorative, , was another recently developed bloom. New pompoms on display comprised Gray Hutton, a yellow and wine bloom; Cynthia, a yellow and red flower; and Minley Hilda, of autumnal shadings. Garden club exhibits again set a high standard for competitive events, in all classes, from fruit and vegetables to cut flowers and decorative arrangements. Decorative arrangements by garden clubs were on the theme • of precious jewels, and the win- . ning arrangement of purple and ! mauve dahlias and gladioli, de-i picting amethyst, was won by! i the Papanui Garden Club. VARIETY OF THEMES For individual competitors in| the decorative field, there was; a wide variety of themes, giving ! scope for skilled and imaginative arrangements. The most outstanding decorative exhibit competition was won , by Mrs A. M. Cross, who depicted an advertisement for a bodly flower-patterned curtain material in an arrangement of bright yellow flowers. “Kitchen Fun” was won by a decorative exhibit of red and white flowers on a similarlycoloured gingham backdrop, with tomatoes and red peppers and wholemeal bread in the foreground, and the theme section “Flamboyant” was won by a spectacular, yet simple arrangement of red dahlias and small gladioli and a twisted willow bark. Clever placings of old bottles, cans, rubbish, lanterns, crank shafts, seaweed and bottletops, all surrounded with multicoloured flowers, comprised the non - competitive decorative theme of “Some Call It Junk.” ENTRIES UP Entries in the dahlia section numbered 4«0 this year, which was 30 more than at the C.H.S. show last year. The total number of entries this year (770) was also higher than last year (751). There were three displays this year of plants and flowers, and a display* of garden equipment. Malvern Dahlia Gardens was awarded a C.H.B. bronze medal for its display of dahlias, and another bronze medal was won by Woolworths (N.Z.), Ltd, Garden Centre, for a display of container plants, which included a playing fountain of water. Mr W. A. Pollard, who entered a display of 26 brilliantly coloured begonias, and C.M.W. Industries, Ltd, were both awarded the C.H.S. Award of Merit for the efforts. Awards: — CHAMPION BLOOMS Championship Blue Ribbon, for best vase of dahlia in show: Mr R. E. Walker’s Hamari Saffron. Best giant decorative: Mr R. E. Walker’s Mason’s Magnificent Giant semi-cactus: Mr R. E i Walker’s Royal Wedding. Large ! exhibition cactus: Mr R. Luisetti’s Joanne Heron. Medium decorative: Mr R. E. Walker’s Alabaster Queen. Medium semi-cactus: Mr R. E. Walker’s Hamari Saffron. Vase small decorative: Mr R. E. Walker’s Redmark. Vase miniature decorative: Mr B. D. Buckley’s Alloway Mandy. Vase small cactus or semi cactus: Mr R. E. Walker’s Mick. Vase miniature cactus or semi-cactus. Mrs L. B. Allan’s Orient Morn. Vase ■ small fimbriated cactus or semicactus: Mr and Mrs S. A. Hall’s Peach Frills. Vase nymphaea: Mr R. Luisetti’s Glory of Heemsteeds. Vase pompom: Mr M. C Hooper’s Mooorplace. Special Trophies Abels, Ltd, Trophy (most points in all sections) and New Zealand Breweries, Ltd, Trophy (most points in open classes): B. D. Buckley. George Howden Memorial Trophy (most points in amateur classes) and Shatter Memorial Shield (most points in amateur decorative ard semi-cactus sections): R. Luisetti. McDougall Challenge Trophy (most points in cut flower section): Mrs T. E. Meager. DAHLIAS Opon (Judge: Mr J. R. Farthing) R. E. Walker, 13 firsts, 1 second, 1 third; B. D. Buckley, 12 firsts, 7 seconds; R. Luisetti, 1 first; Mrs V. G. Hutton, 1 first, 1 second, 3 thirds; E. Yates, 1 first, 1 second. Special classes (Dahlia Society of New Zealand members): R. McCann, 1 first; Mrs V. G. Hutton, 1 first; E. Yates, 1 second. Fraser Challenge Trophy.— C.H.S. Dahlia Circle, 1; Ashburton Horticultural Society, 2; West Coast Horticultural Society, 3. Amateur (Judge: Mr O. D. Sewell) R. Luisetti, 14 firsts, 4 seconds, 2 thirds; R. A. Lowe, 1 first; Mrs S. A Hill, 4 firsts, 3 seconds; Mrs L. B. Allan, 2 firsts, 1 second, 1 third; M. C. Hooper, 3 firsts, 4 seconds, 1 third; Mrs B. Gilbert, 1 first, 1 third; H. G. Stiles, 4 seconds; S. Leeson, 1 second; Mrs V. G. Hutton, 1 second. Garden clubs.—Cashmere, 1; Dam, 2 and 3. Novice (Judge: Mr T. C. de Latour) Mrs A. P. Tipping, 1 first; E. P. Barker, 5 firsts, 4 seconds; Mrs M. V. Chatterton, 3 firsts, 1 second, 3 thirds; Miss D. Robertson, 1 first, 2 seconds; Mrs R. L. Lindsay, 1 first, 2 seconds. DECORATIVE Open (Judges: Misses N. McMillan, M. Watting. Mesdames R. W.

Lilley, W. K E. Wright, D. G. McLachlan, and B. W. Hilton.) Mrs A. M. Crass, 4 firsts; Mrs J. A. Lee, 1 first; Mrs A. J. L. Williams, 1 first, 3 seconds, 1 third Mrs J. Allen, 1 first; Mrs K. S. Tonks, 1 first, 2 seconds, 2 thirds; Mrs W. V. Chatterton, 1 first; Mrs G. A. Warrmer, 1 first, 2 seconds, 1 third; Mrs G. B. Muir, 1 first, 2 thirds; Mrs W. Lake, 1 second; Mrs J. R. Bain, 1 second; Mrs D. L. Anderson, 1 second; Mrs M. Wellboum, 1 third. Garden clubs.—Papanui, 1; Avonside, 2; Wairarapa, 3. Beginners Mrs E. W. Lyon, 1 first; Mrs B O’Carroll, 4 firsts, 2 seconds, jl third; Mrs T. Jackson, 2 firsts; ' Miss S. McGhie, 1 second; Mrs ID. L. Anderson, 1 second: Mrs E. P. Barker; Mrs C. S. H. Monro, 11 second. Special beginners Mrs P. Graham, 2 firsts; Mrs S. D. Bain, 1 second, 1 third; Mrs T. Jackson, 1 third; Mrs C. S. H. Monro, 1 second. Children Deborah Walker, 2 firsts; Sally Monro, 2 seconds. Special awards Most outstanding decorative exhibit: Mrs A. M. Cross. Most outstanding contemporary arrangement: Mrs J. Allen. CUT FLOWERS Open (Judges: Messrs N. W. Drain and G. Jones) Mrs T. E. Meager, 6 firsts; Mrs C. S. H. Monro, 2 firsts, 1 second; A. Langdon, 2 firsts, 1 second; I. H. Flanagan, 1 first; Mrs N. G. Mitchell, 1 first, 2 seconds, 2 thirds; R. B. Prebble, 1 second, 1 third: Mrs M. Jones, 1 third; W. McNickel, 1 second, 3 thirds; Miss E. H. Bull, 1 second. Garden clubs. —St MartinsOpawa, 1 and 2; Fendalton, 3. POT PLANTS Open Mrs N. G. Mitchell, 3 firsts, 4 seconds, 3 thirds; Miss E. H. Bull. 1 first, 1 third; W. McNickel, 1 first, 1 second; A. Langdon, 1 first, 1 third. FRUIT Open (Judge: Mr S. W. Gower) A. F. Butcher, 5 firsts, 1 second; Mrs M. Head. 2 firsts, 1 second, 1 third; Miss E. M. Bull, 1 second; Mrs M. Jones, 3 seconds. Garden clubs.—Cashmere, 1: St Martins-Opawa and Mount Pleasant, (equal) 2. VEGETABLES Open (Judge: Mr S. W. Gower) Mrs M. Jones, 3 firsts, 7 seconds, 1 third; Mrs M. Heap, 10 firsts, 3 seconds, 1 third; Miss M. S. Wickens, 3 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third; C. S. H. Monro, 2 firsts, 1 second; J. Sutherland, 1 first; A. Aird. 1 first. Garden clubs.—St MartinsOpawa, 1; Cashmere, 2; Stratford, 3.