RIOT OF COLOUR

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 January 1932, Page 5

RIOT OF COLOUR

BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.

MASTERTON PARK SHOW

Yesterday a- “Daily Times’’ representative made a leisurely, tour of the flower beds in the public park. It was found that there is a great deal more to admire than is perhaps generally recognised. The visit was well worth while and any flower lover who cares to make a visit to the park during the next few weeks will be well repaid. The blooms will be at their best in about four to six weeks’ time.

Many improvements have been made during the past twelve months, and tlio fruit of work commenced last year is seen to-day. This applies specially to the area towards the south-eastern corner where colour seems to have run riot. Beds of petunias vie with beds of zinnis for the admiring glance. Grandiflora. and bedding'varieties of petunias have been used with excellent effect, while the dahlia flowered and plessiipia zinnias make a brilliant show. The dahlia flowered zinnias are particularly fine and one magnificent specimen measures 5 1-8 inches across, while manyother blooms are between 4 and 5 inches. Other flowers seen in this beauty spot include artotis grandis, bearing on long stems daisy-like pale mauve flowers shading to white; African marigolds and pompom zinnias. Asters also find a place, hut these are not yet in bloom. The roots of elm trees, which stretch out under some parts of the flowering beds, arc apparently responsible for the slightly stunted appearance... of two small section’s of petunias and zinnias. A marvellous transformation has been made in this corner, which twelve months ago was a mass of tangled convolvus, sorrell and twitch grass. At the northern side of the tea kiosk one comes across a delightful bed < t celosia, the compact variety Glasgow pride, commonly known as cockscomb, and the tall feathered scarlet and golden celosia.. Between the grandstand and the main gate are a number of delightful flower beds including dianthu;, salvia bonfire, verbena (five colours), jotunias, phlox, and viscaria which is not yet at its best blooming period. The border round the Soldiers’ Memorial is at present very beautiful and the brilliant double portucula blooms were greatly admired by visitors vesteidav All this beauty represents a good deal of careful thought and hard work find due to the enthusiasm of the park superintendent, Mr 11. S. Sturgeon, who took charge about twelve months ago. He has been ably assisted by bis staff and each share m the credit which will be readily given by flower lovers. Behind it all is the Reserves Committee of the Borough Council with Mr 11. M. Peacock as chairman. A very large measure of the success of the Reserves Committee has been due to the enthusiasm and public spirit shown by the president, Dr. Archer Hosking, and the members of the Mastcrton Beautifying Society. Some idea of the work entailed in the park is gained by knowledge of the fact, that 27,000 bedding plants were put out during the spring months. Next season the new plant propagating house, with its attached liardening-out frames, will be in use.