Floral fantasy at Whanganui's Virginia Lake

Maddie Hanton and 2-year-old Anja meet a unicorn at the lake. Photo / Bevan Conley.

Fantasy trolls, farm animals and dogs in a "paws patrol" were brought to life in flowers and vegetation at Virginia Lake on March 17 and 18.

Floral Fairytales at Virginia Lake was the work of Whanganui and Marton floral artists. It was installed to please the public on the first weekend of the Artists Open Studios, Wanganui Floral Art Group president Jenny Thomson said.

There were seven designs, including an Old McDonald's Farm, a crooked man and an aristocratic arachnid in a psychedelic web.

The idea was to promote floral art.

"We've done it before. It really appeals to people, especially families. Lots of people came to look and lots of them were from out of town," Mrs Thomson said.

Reactions were amazing, she said, with many visitors having photographs taken with the creations. Floral artists were there each day, selling a raffle and talking to visitors.

The unicorn pictured was made by Joy McGregor, Debra Rigg and Martha Hourigan and the whole installation was funded by the Jane Winstone Retirement Village.