Norsewood's Alice Story checks out the competition
Norsewood's Alice Story checks out the competition
The Norsewood flower show was blooming marvellous and a tribute to gardeners who'd battled wind and rain for weeks, but still managed to produce beautiful blooms on cue.
"I'd been worried entries could have been down because wind has battered gardens out here. But it's amazing what has survived," Heather Cheer said.
Not only have flowers survived, they've thrived and this year there were record entries - 249 in the open section from 42 competitors and hundreds of entries from Norsewood and Districts school children - delighting organisers.
"This event has really grown in the last six years, in 2009 we had just 40 entries from 12 entrants," Mrs Cheer said.
"There have been plenty of top blooms for our judges to choose from and considering the weather I'm so proud of our Norsewood folk."
For the judges, Ann Leece of Waipawa, Val Donkervoort of Waipukurau and Lorraine Simmonds and Barbara Little of Otane, it was a tough job deciding on best in show.
The battle of the blooms was between Kerry Harrison's exquisite burgundy poppy and Alice Story's deep red pelargonium and a whole host of stunning rhododendrons.
Kerry Harrison's prize-winning poppy.
And while Kerry took out the best in show, the judges went home with cuttings from Alice's pelargonium, nipped out of her garden on request.
"It's been a very difficult competition to judge, especially in the rhododendron section," Val said.
"And we were blown away by the bird of paradise and the hibiscus. Who would have thought they'd grow in Norsewood."
The burgundy poppy was chosen because it delivered the wow factor, Ann said.
"Rhododendrons always get the attention, but when we saw the poppy we realised it was that little bit different and with it being close to Armistice Day, with the poppy the symbol of remembrance, it sealed our decision," she said.
"There is so much talent here in Norsewood and the mosaic plates made by the school children were amazing. Looking at the designs they're the best of anything you'd buy in Murano glass and in years to come the winning lass could be employed as a wallpaper designer for Liberty. They certainly are a designing group in Norsewood."
School pupil Taylor Rigby took home three first prizes in the aqua jar, mosaic plate and landscape, while her friend Vika Molepeli gained a second in the mosaic plate and third in the aqua jar.
Norsewood and Districts School pupils Taylor Rigby and Vika Molepeli enjoy the roses.
"It was fun working on our entries," Taylor said.
For the judges it was the first time they'd seen aqua jars and it's something they'll incorporate into their own competitions at the Otane Arts and Crafts group, Val said.
"We know we won't have pleased everyone with our decisions here today, but it was so difficult we had to take the top 10 rhododendrons away from the rest to judge the winners in that class."
But it wasn't all girl flower power at the show, with the number of entries from boys impressing the judges.
