Balclutha is in the limelight this weekend, as dahlia lovers gather for the South Island national show. Gillian Vine reports.
Hosting the South Island National Dahlia Show this weekend is a first for Balclutha, and with an expected lineup of more than 2000 blooms, plus floral art and photographic competitions, the public is assured there will be plenty to see.
Because dahlias flower earlier in the North Island, some years ago the New Zealand Dahlia Society decided to have two national shows.
The North Island event was staged in Napier at Waitangi weekend and it is the turn of southern dahlia fanciers tomorrow and Sunday.
The show is being hosted by the Southland Dahlia Circle, which chose Balclutha to reduce travelling times for exhibitors. Show convener Walter Jack admitted holding the show in Balclutha had meant out-of-town planning "has been difficult at times" but the goodwill and assistance from the people of Balclutha had helped to bring it together.
Dunedin-based show manager John Casey and his wife, Robin, had been invaluable, Mr Jack said.
Tomorrow at 2.30pm, Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan will officially open the show and present special awards.
Mr Jack said there were entries from as far away as Blenheim and "a large number from Christchurch". A strong entry from Dunedin dahlia growers was also expected.
Mosgiel man Neville Mercer said he would probably enter a selection of blooms but everything depended on how they looked the day before.
Unlike some keen exhibitors, he does not put umbrellas over his best blooms to prevent rain damage and dark colours fading.
All types of dahlia will be seen at the show, from tiny Lilliput types to giant decorative varieties with blooms 25cm or more in diameter.
There is also a photography competition. Every entry must feature dahlias, with classes for close-ups, a single bloom, garden scenes, dahlia personalities and dahlias in any other setting.
Probably the most challenging and keenly contested class for those entering flowers calls for six vases of dahlias. The judges look for high-quality blooms with consistency across them all, no easy task, but "this is the class we all hope to win", Mr Jack said.
The outright win for the vase class is a framed needlework, featuring a basket of dahlias. It has been donated by Angela Johnstone, of Gore, who spent many hours creating it.
See it
The South Island National Dahlia Show is being held tomorrow and Sunday in the Balclutha Memorial Hall. The show is open to the public from 2pm until 5.30pm tomorrow and 9am to 3pm on Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults; children free.
