New Solar Flare bloom on show at Whanganui's 2018 Autumn Flower Show

Margaret Gibbard holds the Solar Flare chrysanthemum named by a Whanganui person. Photo / Bevan Conley

There will be something for everyone at this year's Autumn Flower Show in Whanganui, Wanganui Chrysanthemum Club president Margaret Gibbard says.

It's on Saturday afternoon only, from 1pm to 5pm at the Whanganui Intermediate School Hall. The cost will be $2 for adults, with children free.

In the foyer will be Wanganui Floral Art Society arrangements, on a Royal Wedding theme. Inside will be entries in flower and produce categories, craft stalls, potplants, an afternoon tea area, posies and "little old garden treasures" available to purchase.

Many categories of chrysanthemum will be up for judging. Photo / Bevan Conley

Chrysanthemums are the usual focus in autumn. Exhibitors come from Palmerston North, Feilding, Levin, Whanganui and Hawera, and the judge is from Palmerston North.

This year the show is a week later than usual, so dahlias may be almost finished, Gibbard said. It's also been a tough season for flowers.

"It was a lot hotter. You had to water a lot more and you had to watch out for things like rust, and do more spraying."

She is entering six categories, and said she usually managed to get a bloom onto the premier table.

"I work and don't have the time. Our gentleman growers are mostly retired and put a lot of time into it. They grow the large blooms that seem to be the show stoppers and normally win all the prizes."

Solar Flare is a chyrsanthemum bred by Tom Mechen. Photo / Bevan Conley

One of the blooms at the show will be the vibrant orange-yellow Solar Flare. It was bred by the late Tom Mechen, a Palmerston North grower.

At the last autumn flower show names for it were requested. A Whanganui person suggested Solar Flare, and the name has been accepted by the National Chrysanthemum Society.