Daffodil Dayze ready to burst into life

Kim "Dusty" Murtagh with the first spring daffodils at the former Black Horse Brewery site near...
Kim "Dusty" Murtagh with the first spring daffodils at the former Black Horse Brewery site near Lawrence yesterday. Photo by Helena de Reus.

Spite last month's snowfall, and a fresh snowfall yesterday, a Spring festival will go ahead today at the site of an old brewery near Lawrence.

"Daffodil Dayze" is an annual event that runs for the three months of spring, from September 3 to November 30.

It showcases the ruins of Otago's most successful provincial brewery and features walks and rare plant species.

Organiser Kim "Dusty" Murtagh said a small amount of snow settled at the site yesterday morning, but all the new snow melted by mid-morning.

Despite last month's heavy snow causing damage to walking tracks and collapsing sections of land into the stream that flows through the former brewery, the daffodils had begun to bloom "right on time" she said.

The site would be open each day from 10am to 5pm with an entry fee offering a chance to walk through fields of daffodils, and the brewery ruins, or to enjoy a scone or baked potatoe.

The 10ha field of daffodils at the former Black Horse Brewery site at Wetherstons was first planted out 116 years ago.

In its heyday in the 1930s it attracted thousands of visitors.

Over the years, the varieties cross-pollinated to provide a rare display, Ms Murtagh said.

The site will host "Carnivale Dayze" on Sunday, September 25, as part of the Real NZ Festival and Spin it Wide campaign. The group plans to transform its annual gala day fundraiser into "an old world carnival", offering a variety of stalls and entertainment.

"We can't wait to show the world how wonderful everything is here," she said.

Hart's Daffodil Charitable Trust received $5000 funding from Real NZ Festival Otago.

helena.dereus@odt.co.nz

 

 

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