A stalwart member of the Otago Lily Society, Ms Judge is leading show preparations, including assisting people from all walks of life who are keen to display their blooms.
The Otago Lily Society Show will be held this Saturday, January 17 and will be open for public viewing from noon to 4pm at St Kilda Bowling Club, 33 Royal Cres.
Entry costs $5, with children under 12 free.
Show entries across a range of categories will be set up tomorrow, from 1pm-5pm, or on Saturday, from 8am-9.30am.
"The show is open to everyone, so we have a real range of people wanting to enter their lilies in the show — from experienced growers to those giving it a go for the first time," Ms Judge said.
"I will be there to welcome them and to help people who aren’t sure decide what class their lilies should be entered in, and we can help them to set up their displays as well.
"The more the merrier."
With Dunedin’s summer remaining cool and relatively wet so far, society members had been hoping for a burst of sunshine and heat to bring the lilies on for the show.
"It will be interesting to see how we get on in terms of entries.
"Our message to the public is come along and enjoy the show with us — large or small, it’s going to be great."
Ms Judge said the Otago Lily Society was in good heart, with about 25 active members and a larger, wider membership.
There were many fascinating lily varieties to grow, with a recent surge in popularity of hybrids, such as oriental lilies crossed with trumpet varieties.
Display entries in the Otago Lily Society Show will be in sections — floret (a single flower), stem (with three flowers/buds or more), collection of three florets in a dish, potted lily, lily photograph and floral art (including lily) on the theme of "no.8 wire" or "summer spectacle".
There are three categories of entry — open, beginner/novice, and children under 15.
For more information on the show and how to enter, email karen.judge57@gmail.com
The Lily Gardener
I will bring my blooms to The Show this year
What will be in flower when
the sun is in Summer and Spring rains are eased?
Will I have stems to show?
Martagons, Asiatics, Orientals, Trumpets,
Come also you beautiful lesser-seen species
Are your offspring prepared for that week?
Will you make ready your buds, and flower for me?
Hybrid joys, your colour and scent roar at me
from garden beds scattered with grass and perennial
Spring gardening days are forfeit to Croquet
but you lilies don’t care, your rod stems rise proud
Weather, you fiend! Thanks for all the watering
but the Show is due. Now we need hot sun to
ripen and colour the buds, to lengthen the stems
and tighten the green shapely leaves
Do it now I beg you. The Show is upon us!
— Kate Jenkins — January 2026
