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The Garden City Flower Show, Christchurch, New Zealand |
Christchurch has long been known as the garden city, and this year, not to be outdone by Auckland's Ellerslie Flower Show, staged the Garden City Show in the grounds of the historic homestead, Mona Vale.
From display gardens to lectures, and floral displays to plants and merchandise for sale it was a horticultural extravaganza, jam full of horticultural insights and interest.
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The star of the show was the 'potage garden', organised by the Fruit and Vegetable Circle of Canterbury Horticultural Society. A beautifully designed potager using raised, brick-edged beds which contained perfect, colourful lettuces. Tall wigwams of beans gave height to the garden and there was even an avenue of corn leading to a summerhouse. A classical urn held a brightly coloured pepper plant. Quite an inspiration! The on-site assistance of the willing organisers of this garden made it a rewarding visit.
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The 'Potage' Garden was the Star of the Show | |
Display gardens by Texture Plants, the Landscape Architects Association and the Botanic Gardens Apprentices demonstrated modern garden styles, while others had a more traditional approach. An interesting garden for those with brown thumbs or who have inherited a derelict garden was the before and after gardens 'Does Your Garden Look Like This?" display. Well, possibly not many of the Garden City Show visitors have a garden like that, but many have encountered one!
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Texture Plants Garden was strikingly different |
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Potential plus or total despair- the design
concepts gave inspiration for this garden! | |
The speaker series ranged from landscape architects to propagation techniques and there were floral demonstrations and ideas on top performing plants for your garden. Local speakers gave many a chance to hear and absorb new ideas.
The display gardens of perennials were in wonderful bloom and incorporated many new ideas for colour combinations, using beautiful pots as focal points. Overall the standard was very, very high and the show provided valuable insights and great inspiration. It was certainly worth the day out and the crowds confirmed that and clearly thoroughly enjoyed the event. It was a great effort.
A year or two, however, might be needed to achieve the incredible standard of some of the big shows, such as Chelsea, where the logistics of catering for a huge crowd is a fine, much-practised art and nary a planter bag is seen in the displays!
With more than 60 stands of exhibitors and merchandise it was an opportunity to see new entrants into the Christchurch Garden scene. The ticket sales have rewarded their efforts, but a great 'Thank you' must be due to the Canterbury Horticultural Society and others for the many hours of work by their volunteers, and to the Christchurch City and Botanic Gardens for their support. |
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