Floral art displays light up windows

Karen Phelps, a Bossy B staff member, next to the floral design. Photo / Ben Fraser

Extravagant floral displays cropping up in some of Rotorua's shop windows are giving locals a sneak peak of what is to come.

FloravisioNZ 2015, a competitive show for floral artists belonging to the Floral Art Society of New Zealand, is being held in the city from next Wednesday.

The society's 50th conference and annual meeting, which is being held in conjunction with the competition, has more than 470 people registered.

To promote the event, designers from around the country have been constructing floral displays in local shop windows.

Bossy B on Eruera St was one of the shops to display a design and owner Linda Bell said it was a good event to get behind.

"Rotorua is one of the top places in New Zealand for gardens so I think FloravisioNZ is a good event to support.

"Having the display in the shop window is something a little different and suits my store's target market."

Bossy B staff member Karen Phelps said the designer, Lyn McConnell, spent most of a morning on the display.

"It took about three hours to put together. It arrived in pieces and she did all the assembling and weaving of all the counterparts."

The display had caught the attention of many passersby, she said.

"It has definitely been a talking point for people walking past the shop and browsing inside. I'm sure it will continue to draw attention for the 10 days it will be in our window."

FloravisioNZ 2015, held at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, will host more than 140 floral artists as they compete for the premier title of "All That Glitters is not Gold".

-The exhibition is on next Thursday from 12pm to 4.30pm, next Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday 28th 9.30am to 1.30pm.