Blooms on display at orchid show

Palmerston North orchid grower Geraldine Wood with her winning orchid, Lycaste aphrodite. PHOTO/NATALIE SIXTUS

Its name is Lycaste aphrodite, and it has won its owner grand prize in the Wanganui Orchid Society's annual flower show.

Geraldine Wood of Palmerston North took out the top award in the show, which was held at Whanganui City College in the weekend.

Lycaste aphrodite is an unusual orchid with a brilliant golden colour and three large petals.

"It's a beautiful colour and it's perfectly formed," said Ms Wood, who bought the plant in Auckland.

"It's also very free flowering - I won grand prize in the Levin and Districts Orchid Society show with the same plant a month ago. One of the flowers on the plant has been open since mid-August."

Ms Wood said she was "tickled pink" to win the grand prize.

"It's really about the joy of seeing a beautiful plant being appreciated by other people."

Ms Wood has her own laboratory where she germinates her own orchid seeds - but she describes herself as an "out of control hobbyist".

President of the Wanganui Orchid Society, Kath Bourne, said the show had been very well supported by the public.

"We had 350 through the door on Saturday alone. We had to open earlier than we expected because people were queuing up outside the door," Ms Bourne said.

She said blooms were judged anonymously in a dozen different categories.

Ms Bourne said the number of entries at the show was pleasing considering it had been a poor growing season.

"The weather hasn't been very kind to orchids this year," she said.