Judging a dahlia show requires a sharp eye for detail, including the ability to spot even the most minuscule of faults in a flower.
It is an arduous task, as judges at the Dunedin Horticultural Society’s Summer Flower Show in St Kilda found out on Saturday.
Dunedin Dahlia Circle member Mark Penty said loads of "pretty perfect" dahlias were on display.
"There needs to be a good stem to hold the flower up nice and straight, and it should sit on a 45-degree angle with the eye in the middle.
"The whole thing has got to be perfect, even from the back."
Judges at the show critiqued flowers from 11am to 2pm, and there was a large collection of different varieties to look at.
"You can really get quite creative with what you’re bringing along," Mr Penty said.
He said it had been a difficult growing season.
The weather had not been consistent, and even the best days had not been very warm.
It had affected his entry in the South Island National Dahlia Show, which was held in Gore last week.
"I didn’t have that much for the nationals, but all of a sudden this week I’ve had more flowers come up because the weather’s just got a wee bit better."
He said his garden was "quite colourful" and he had competition-worthy flowers to enter in Saturday’s show.
"It was good for the final push, I suppose. Now I can forget about the garden," Mr Penty said.
Dunedin Dahlia Circle vice-president and patron Stuart Brown said there were several first-time entrants, who were all very keen.
"It’s very encouraging, and there’s some excellent flowers too."
He was happy to have received an entry from a very young girl, who ran in excitedly to hand in her dahlia.
"She was only about yea high, and I thought it was rather nice how she came in holding it to enter."
The overall champion bloom, an "Aggie White", was grown by Wayne and Donna Burgess, of Waikouaiti.
Mr Penty said the Burgesses had brought in a great selection of dahlias this year.
"They’ve done really well. Waikouaiti is just a bit warmer, and they have a great set-up at home."
