Growers compete at Whanganui horticultural show

Whanganui grower Wayne Hughes will be preparing his gladioli for yet another Summer Show. Photo/ file

Gardeners will be able to make a last minute decision to enter their flowers in the Wanganui Horticultural Society's Summer Show tomorrow.

Entry is by donation and the show is on at the Whanganui Intermediate School Hall from noon to 5pm.

Entries will be accepted from 7.30am to 10am that morning. There will be lots of space for impulsive last minute entries, says society vice-president Wayne Hughes.

But the resurgence of interest in gardening hasn't usually brought extra entries.

"They want them in their garden. They don't want to come and show them, but they will come and see what new stuff is around."

The main focus of the Summer Show is always gladioli and dahlias, with competitive growers bringing flowers from centres between Otaki and New Plymouth.

Mr Hughes will be showing his gladioli, and said the show is an opportunity for people to see the latest varieties being bred.

But it has many other categories - for lilies, cut flowers, fruit, vegetables and pot plants. There will also be trade stalls.

It's been a difficult growing season, with a December drought followed by good rain for some during January.

"Everything went from brown and very wilted to a very bright green all of a sudden," Mr Hughes said.

Flowers and fruit have been ready two to three weeks earlier than usual, with Whanganui sweetcorn available at Christmas for the first time in decades.

That early development should help the dahlia entries, and growth is still "flying ahead", spurred on by constant warmth.

The Wanganui Horticultural Society is in its 150th year. It used to have hundreds of members, a garden circle and its own rooms where the Whanganui War Memorial Centre is now.

These days there are about 25 members and it's a struggle to keep people, Mr Hughes said.

The society may celebrate its 150 years in some manner at its Spring Show.