EXHILARATING SHOW OF COLOUR

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 50, 22 November 1945, Page 4

EXHILARATING SHOW OF COLOUR

Roses At Horticultural Society’s Display

Unquestionably the queen of the’ Wellington Horticultural Society’s show at the, Wellington Town Hall yesterday was the rose in ils endless variety of shades, perfumes, aud distinctive variations, from the “single-petal’’ to the peony. Though the display was not so profuse, compared to those of previous seasons, there was an abundance of superbly-shaped specimens and exhilarating colour. Other (lowers, anemones, ranunculus, antirrhinums. oriental nud Iceland poppies, aquilcgias, delphiniums; delieatcly-vcined giant pausies. lupins, iris, rhododendrons; floating bowls, displaying individually conspicuous blooms ; sprays: flower beads patterned on dishes of damp sand; and one collection of prize-winning vegetables (now relegated to a side table), rounded out the show. Aristocratic, delphiniums, blue-bearded iris, spiked lupin, and richly-toned peony roses made a magnificent dominating bowl for Mrs. A. J. Du Pout’s stand of noncompetitive exhibits. Other arresting items on this table, where most of the bowls and troughs of flowers stood on upturned tree-stump stands, were thickly spread fuchsias, smoky-coloured bearded iris, a jug holding two protea, their strong stems topped by gigantic heads of sharp, dusky pink petals, white clematis (Baron de Vries), with a faint lavender tinge, a ■ claret-shaded clematis (Ville de Lyon), erigcrons, roses, daisies, pyrethrums aud pansies. Those who supported Mrs. Du Pout’s stand,, which she had arranged , herself, were MesdameS Knox Gilmer, .Gillon, F. Langdon, R. Arlow, J. J. Reich; F. R. Jones. F. B. Young, F, T. Clere, 11. J. Booth, and Miss M. Cooper.

Sir Patrick Duff, who opened the show, wore n deep rose-pink rose in his buttonhole, the president of the society, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, wore three deep red American Beauty roses on her costume lapel, and all the women guests with the official party wore sprays of roses. Roses decorated the afternoon tea tables where the president entertained Sir Patrick and Lady Duff, tlie mayor of Wellington, Mr. Appleton, aud Mrs. Appleton. Lady Pomnre, Captain and Mrs. S. Holm, Mrs. E. J. Fawcett, Mr. and Mrs. Hope Gibbons, Mr. and Mrs. G. S.. Nicholl. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Gibbons. Messrs. Pallas. Hudson and C. Campbell. Lady Duff was presented with a bouquet of blue delphiniums, pale blue larkspur aud pink roses.