Crowds cluster for best blooms in town

Organisers of the 10th anniversary Ellerslie Flower Show have dubbed the event "a blooming success", with more visitors in spite of cold weather and the occasional downpour.

The first public day attracted a record crowd of more than 10,000 - a 40 per cent increase on opening day last year.

Yesterday, when families also had the lure of the annual Auckland Santa Parade, about 8000 people attended the flower show - 20 per cent up on last year's final day. Before it ended at 7pm there was an influx for the traditional plant sell-off.

Nearly half of the show visitors come from outside Auckland and an average 6 per cent come from the South Island.

The five-day show at the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens in Manukau City was the last for event director Cath Handley. She took on the role for the new owners, a consortium of event managers who bought the show from the Rotary Club of Auckland in April, when some doubted whether the show had a future.

She said shuttle buses and site improvements had made it easier to get to the show.

Highlights this year included the Chelsea Flower Show garden, the Lakeside Art Garden and the Stevenson Garden Zone.