AMID PRIZE BLOOMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 18

AMID PRIZE BLOOMS

"GLORY OF THE GARDEN"

TOWN HALL TRANSFORMED

It is difficult to know just where to start to describe the picture the Town Hall presented yesterday afternoon when the Wellington Horticultural Society's second midsummer show was opened. The most vivid and glorious colourings were displayed.

The Town Hall, large as it is, was literally filled with flowers, and the size and variety of the blooms were quite remarkable. The gladioli and hydrangeas were the principal exhibits. On one table alone there were 200 magnificent gladioli blooms. These were arranged on a tiered stand in the centre of the hall. The stand was covered in black paper and the blooms stood in baskets with sprays of dark reddish brown leaves as a background. On a green-covered tiered stand erected around the base of the stage were hundreds of dark green pottery vases arranged at regular intervals, each holding a single gladioli bloom. Their

beautiful spear-like uniform formation made a formal design which was in great contrast to the stage's background of ferns, cypresses and blue hydrangeas in tubs placed on the tiered choir seats all the way up to the organ loft.

Each year deeper and more beautiful shades of hydrangeas put in an appearance and several tables were massed with these homely flowers. Enormous dahlias were exhibited, new and more exquisite pansies and violas, and masses, of all the other summer blooms. Mrs. Charles Haines's exhibition table entitled "Jade,and Silver," with its unusual flowers and foliage and original arrangements attracted much attention. Included among the novelties on this table was a beautiful little shrub cut' into the shape of a peacock. This was grown by Miss Olive Turton, of Wadestown, from a cutting of lonicera. It is three years old and the patience and care which must have gone into producing this charming exhibit was very evident.

■ The opening ceremony was performed by Mr. W. H. P. Barber and those1 on the stage in the official party were Mrs. Knox Gilmer (president of the society), Mr. G. McKenzie, Mr. G. S. Nicoll, Mr. C. M. Luke, and Mrs. Mountier. Mrs. Gilmer introduced Mr. Barber. She described him as a consistent, loving gardener, and expressed appre-; ciation of all the work he had done for the society in the years gone by. She mentioned the road beautification scheme and promised the society's help and co-operation in any scheme put forward, but said that in her opinion not much could be done without giving the public some,education in the matter of horticulture. A way of accomplishing this would be by broadcasting. She expressed the hope that the attention of the proper authorities would be called to the inadequate begonia house in the botanical garden and that they would see their way clear to erecting a larger and more suitable glass house. She would be leaving for England shortly and during her absence Mr. G. McKenzie would preside. She asked the society to give, him the same support that it had given her in the past.

Mr. Barber spoke of his early connection - with the horticulture and flower shows in Wellington. He started gardening as a • boy,. and all through his life he said it had been the greatest joy. to him. He recommended it as a hobby which kept one young, healthy, and happy. He thanked the society for asking him to open the show, and mentioned some of the old Horticulture Society members who were present. When the society first started it had great difficulties to contend with. The first shows were held in the skat- j ing rink in inartistic surroundings, and they had not the flowers in those days to make the show. Flowers had improved greatly; the finest gladiolus of the old days was not equal to the poorest one in the shows of today. A lot of credit for the way the society had progressed during the last few years must be given to Mrs. Gilmer for the energy and enthusiasm she had put into it. He congratulated the exhibitors on the wonderful display, especially mentioning the gladioli and dahlias, and concluded by quoting Rudyard Kipling's delightful poem, "The Glory of the Garden."

I Mrs. Gilmer entertained past and present members of the society's committee at tea. Her guests included Mr. C. M. Luke, Mr. Barber, Mrs. Mountier. ■Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Nicoll, Mr. and Mrs. George Clarke, Mrs. Grapes, Mrs. yon Keisenberg, Mrs. Blackmore, Mr. and Mrs. G. McKenzie, Mr. Miller, Mr. Fox, Mr. Grant, Mrs. Arlow, Mrs. Dv Pont, Miss Beagley, Mr. Brooker, Mr. Griffiths, Mr. William Burke, Mr. Waugh, Mrs. H. D. Bennett, Mrs. Boyd, Miss Eglin, Miss Jacobson, Mr. I. B. Gilmour, Mr. Watkins, Mrs. Charles Haines, and Mrs. Rough.

The tearoom under the balcony, screened off by foliage, was in charge of Mesdames G. G. Nicoll and G. C. Clarke, who were assisted by a number of helpers. The tables were all decorated with flowers, the Jong offi-

cial table having:a number of bowls of gladioli, roses, and dahlias.

Among visitors' to the show were Lady Myers, Lady Shirtcliffe, Mrs. F. Hay, Mrs. F. Dyer,. Mrs. Charles Morice and Miss Morice, Mrs. B. H. Edkins .(Keri Keri), Miss Muir, Mrs. W. E. Herbert, Mrs. J. B. MacEwan, Mrs. Lancelot Moore, Mrs. G. P. H. Davidson, Mrs. J. C. Henderson, Mrs. E. E. Gillon, Mrs D. Aitkcn, Madame Bendall, Mr. and Mrs. Hayward Mirams, Mr. W. M. Page, Miss Ethel Cameron, Mr. Nisbitt, Mrs. C. J. B. Norwood, Mrs. Hough ton (Dunedin), Mrs. H. A. Brown, Miss E. Thomas (Christchurch), Miss M. Putnam, and Miss C^Prouse.