Our Illustrations

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVII, Issue 22, 1 December 1906, Page 38

Our Illustrations

FLOWER SHOWS. AUCKLAND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S FINE DISPLAY. Flower gardens are now gay all over the colony, and flower shows are a feature in the doings of the month. In Auckland the local horticultural societyare able to congratulate themselves on the largest and most effective display of early summer blooms ever gathered together in one show in the province. The quality of the flowers was as admirable as their amazing variety, and it may be safely said that no finer tables of sweet peas and carnations could have been seen at any show south of the line. Roses were scarcely so fine as usual. The spring was an unusually warm and early one, and brought the “Queen of Flowers” to their fullest perfection a full week or ten days since. There were, however, some very beautiful stands, and those well-known growers, Messrs Lippiatt and Sons, were once more to the front with gorgeous specimens. Mr Brett, of Takapuna, besides easily carrying off prizes for sweet peas and carnations, exhibited—not for competition—a table of specimen carnations. There were upwards of 30 separate varieties, and the blooms were of the largest, kind and in the utmost profusion, dozens of each being shown. Mrs Mackay had a notable exhibit, and so did Messrs D. Hay and Son and Mr MacDonald. The children’s sections were really wonderfully good, both in bou quets, cut flowers, and arranged flower baskets, the taste and ingenuity displayed being wonderful. Several pictures of the show will be found amongst our illustrated pages.