Beautiful Blooms Shown At Whangarei

Northern Advocate, 3 November 1949, Page 5

Beautiful Blooms Shown At Whangarei

EVIDENCE of Whangarei’s claim that it is one of the most beautiful garden towns of the Dominion was colourfully demonstrated at the Whangarei and District Flower Show, arranged by the Whangarei Ladies' Gardening Club, which opened at the Town Hall this afternoon.

The many exhibitors showed that, while the climate this spring may not have been all that was desired from a horticultural viewpoint, a splendid profusion of quality blooms could be obtained from the gardens of the borough and district,

Entries were fairly numerous in the gladiolus classes, where some elegant spikes of many hues were exhibited. Among them were some arresting shades of red. with smoky purple and lavender markings. The season for gladioli, unfortunately, Is a. little late and, as a consequence, some of the blooms were not fully developed.

Showing the scene with Bottom in his donkey’s head, the stage with its painted backdrop and forest of trees and shrubs, look several days to prepare.

An interesting feature was the dresses of the small dolls, which were cut from a new material made from wood pulp.

A section in which heavier entries were received than last year was for roses, one of the oldest and most beautiful and popular of flowers. Many varieties, including some quite new ones, were displayed and they attracted the interest of everyone who visited the show.

ORCHIDS ON VIEW. Of special interest was an exhibit of orchids from the bush-house nurseries of Mrs W. Simons. Prominently displayed was a striking white Cymbidium Alexander Westonbert. Mrs Simons also showed a beautiful pink crinoline cyclamen, believed to be the only one of its kind in Whangarei.

Once again, the climatic conditions had been unkind to exhibitors. The first and most beautiful blooms are now over and the dryness of the season had affected the later blooms.

Other eye-catching exhibits were prepared by Mrs W. W. Logan and Mrs W. A. Given. Both showed taste in arrangement, and included some exquisite flowers. Mrs A. R. Pickmere showed an interesting display of New Zealand native flowers, including rengarenga and Poor Knights’ Lily. OFFICIAL OPENING The show was officially opened this afternoon by the Mayoress (Mrs W. Jones) who was introduced by the gardening club’s president (Mrs M. L. Sands). Mrs Jones in declaring the show open congratulated the club on the ■ success of its undertaking and expressed her admiration for the many beautiful blooms displayed in the hall. Before she left the stage Mrs Jones was presented with a bouquet. It csults:

Yesterday’s rain battered many which had been left out, and spoilt them for show purposes. ARTISTIC ARRANGEMENT The section catering for "other varieties" included some splendid specimens of gerberas as well as some fine collections of irises. The flowering shrubs and collections of native flowers, berries and leaves ilso gave added interest to the display.

A feature of the decorative section was the better use to which the various blooms were put. Compared with last year it seemed that; exhibitors had striven for, and achieved, a generally higher standard with improved artistic arrangement. Entries in the carnation and sweetpea classes were fairly numerous and generally of a high quality.

The increased interest and knowledge of school children in floral art and appreciation was evidenced by the considerably greater number of exhibits in the school sections.

Decorative Section Vase sweet pens: Miss I. Killen l, Mrs R. G. Hoskins 2. Carnations: Mrs D. McLennan 1. Mrs J. Corcoran 2. Delphiniums: Mrs N. Conaghan 2. Any flowers: Mrs N. Conaghan f, Mrs It. G. Hosking 2, Mrs F. S. Shepherd 3. Basket, flowers: Mrs M. M. Martin 1. Mrs It. G. Hosking 2, Mrs K. K. McCracken 3. Bowl floating flowers: Mrs R. E. McCracken 1, Mrs R. G. Hosking 2, Mrs N T . Conaghan 3. Bowl mixed flowers: Mrs R. F.. McCracken 1, Mrs F. S. Shepherd 2, Miss I. Killen 3. Bowl mixed flowers over Bin. high: Mrs R. E. McCracken 1. Mrs K. G. M. Kelly 2, Mrs M. A. Flalllday 3. Vase flowers, gold shades: Mrs R. G. Hosking 1. Mrs M. A. Hallklav 2. Miss M. Burke 3. Blue shades: Miss I Killen 3. Mrs R. E. McCracken 2, Mrs It, G Hosking 3 Fink shades: Miss I Killen 1. Mrs R Cam obeli 2. Mrs F. J Baker 3. Bowl any other flowers, one variety: Mrs A. J Coward 1. Mrs R. G Hosking 2 and 3. Vase, one variety: Mrs M. A. Hallidny 3. Mrs R. G. Hosking 2, Mrs F. J. Baker 3. Ladv's spray: Mrs P. E. McCracken 3, Mrs K. C. Woodcock 2. Victorian posy: Mrs F. S. Shepherd 1, Mrs R. E. McCracken 2. Decorated novelty: Mrs D. E Tyson !. Mrs N. Conaghan 2. Mrs K. Annett 3. Posv bowl, without sand: Mrs R. F. McCracken 1, Mrs W. M. Fraser 2 and 3. Posy bowl, with sand: Mrs D. E. Tvsnn 1. Miss 1 Killen 2. Marcella West 3 Min Ini i ire Covers: Mrs F. Quince'- 1. Mrs F s. Shepherd 2. Mrs F. T. Baker 3. K,t\’ice classes.—Vase mixed (lowers: Mrs K. C Woodcock 1. Mrs ,N. Conaghan 2. Mrs K. G. M. Kelly and Mrs M. 11. Bell equal 3. Bowl mixed flowers: Mrs N. Conaghan 1. Lady’s spray: E. Wuckwy 1 and 3. Mrs R. Campbell ?-

Apart from the many colourful blooms they exhibited in the sweet-pea classes, the ingenuity and decorative ability in the novelty classes was outstanding. Their model gardens were numerous and some of them exceedingly clever, being faithful replicas of suburban plots complete with flower beds and vegetable patches. The decorative novelties floral coaches, baskets, tennis racquets and other objects were good examples of the juvenile florists’ art. GARDENING CLUB’S EXHIBIT The Whangarei Ladies' Gardening Club presented a large exhibit, with a completely different arrangement from last year. A nice balance was struck between foliage and flowers in a modern arrangement and with excellent trimmings. One of the most successful, as well as the most novel, exhibit was a stage setting of a scene from Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream," prepared by Mesdames W. \V. Logan and D. E. Tyson.