‘Southern surprise’ for Trillium Group

Myra Wells, of Abbotsford, pipes in the haggis at the New Zealand Trillium Group’s lunch on Sunday in Dunedin. PHOTO: GILLIAN VINE

In a ceremony at the Green Island Rugby Football Club, Mr Wells’ wife, Myra, donned her kilt and piped in a haggis carried in by Lorraine Grenfell.

After the ceremony, southerners seemed more enthusiastic about digging into the Scottish treat, and those who did appreciated the opportunity to try the delicacy.

Marcelle Garden, of Roxburgh, behind her well-stocked sales table at the New Zealand Trillium Group conference, held in Dunedin at the weekend. PHOTO: GILLIAN VINE

More than 90 of the group’s 160 members came from as far away as Palmerston North and Waitomo, gathering over the weekend to celebrate their favourite woodland plant, with talks, visits to gardens, raffles and sales of hard-to-find plants.

Joy Leonard, of Timaru, who founded the group almost 20 years ago, said the Dunedin event had been extremely successful.

It was organised by just four people – Mr and Mrs Wells, Mrs Grenfell and Jenni Gillions.

Co-organiser of the New Zealand Trillium Group's conference, Jenni Gillions (left), of Dunedin, is pictured with New Zealand Trillium Group founder Joy Leonard, of Timaru. PHOTO: GILLIAN VINE

“They’ve done a wonderful job,” Mrs Leonard said.

Next year’s conference will be in Timaru, where the group began.