Waimarino Spring Show

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 15, 8 September 1987, Page 15

Waimarino Spring Show

The Raetihi Garden Club is anticipating a far greater number of entries for this year's Spring Show, to be held at the Raetihi Primary School Hall on 17 September. Gardcn Club president Leigh Ryland said an unusually mild winter has created a riot of spring blooms that normally don't appear until early October. The competition is open to young and old alike throughout the Waimarino and indeed there is a wide range of divisions for people to enter, including c'ut flowers, trees and shrubs and a pot-plant section. There is also a special section for children's floral art and novelty vegetables. Up for grabs are a number of cups including the prestigious Jennifer Godfrey Cup for the champion bloom of the show. There are small monetary prizes for first and second placegetters in each division and a points system that counts towards a Points Prize Cup at the end of the show. This year sees the end of the floral art section due to

a general lack of interest - last year's spring show had just one entrant in that category. Mrs Ryland said a space will be provided for people wishing to display items of floral art on a non-com-petitive basis. Judging this year's entries will be renowned horticultural expert, Una Hawkens, from Wanganui. Mrs Hawkens is a member of the city's Horticultural Society and has many years experience in this area of interest. The Waimarino Spring Show has traditionally had a very poor showing from Ohakune people (are Ohakune blooms sub-stan-dard?), which Mrs Ryland said is disappointing. "After all, it is the Waimarino Spring Show," she said. "In the old days the show was the social event of the year, complete with a choir. Public support either through submitting entries or support on the day is . essential if the show is to continue." Schedules of the day's events may be obtained from McLean's Bookshop, Raetihi, or Kunikraft in Ohakune.