Maybe you think entering a flower show is only for those serious folk who talk to their plants, cover them up on chilly nights and feed them the finest homemade compost.
That’s not the Martinborough Rose and Flower Show, where anyone can enter an attractive flower or plant from their garden. It’s a celebration of beauty, not perfection. If you don’t know the name of your rose it won’t matter and if you don’t have any roses there are plenty of other flower categories you can enter. You can also bring along natives, cacti, grasses, herbs, fruit and vegetables, or even a favourite potted plant. Children have 5 different options including that old favourite, the sand saucer.
Of course, there are some standards. Two judges are coming from Masterton for the roses, but locals will be judging the rest – Gaye Chadburn, Cut Flowers; BJ, House and Garden; and Jessica Jina , Floral Art and Children’s Work.
Entries are “on the day” so you can bring whatever looks good in your garden that morning.
This does make it totally unpredictable for the organisers! If it has been raining the rose numbers will be down; wind might have devastated the delphiniums, and dry weather damages everything but the succulents. Still, every year there are hundreds of entries and visitors can enjoy a riot of colour, shape and perfume.
The show, in one form or another, has been around for more than a century. While the date of the first show has been lost, the impressive silver Martin Memorial Challenge Cup dates back to 1911. It’s a tribute to all the volunteers past and present that the event has survived and thrived. Yvonne Harvey, who along with Martina Kershaw, coordinates the event says they have a great team. “We would love to have some new faces though”, she added.
Ranui Lavender and Moa Garden Irises are this year’s sponsors. The silent auction includes a flower bouquet, and garden consultation with Kim Walton of Red Horticulture.
To complement the Rose and Flower Show the Martinborough Museum, at No.7 The Square, will have a rose-themed exhibition. This will include the three special roses that are part of Martinborough’s heritage, the most famous being the “Harris Rose”, brought to NZ in 1840. It is said to have survived the long voyage stuck in a potato.
Martinborough Rose and Flower Show, Saturday 22 November at the Waihinga Centre.
Exhibitors 7.30-10.30am. Public Admission 12-3pm. Gold Coin Donation.
Facebook@MartinboroughRoseShow
Yvonne Harvey 06 306 9553, jyrv@farmside.co.nz
Martina Kershaw: martina.edwards@hotmail.com
