We had another enjoyable daffodil show in the Central Region , The RONGOTEA Spring Show , on Thursday 17 September , held in the TE KAWAU Community Hall , Rongotea .We have had quite a few days of very strong winds lashing the country ; no ideal for daffodils , and a very warm spring has seen the season drawing to an early conclusion .We welcomed exhibitors from across our region; a first visit from Wellingtonian Peter Tisjen and a return to his former home , – Robin Hill blown downwind from Cambridge . The locals support this show very well ; – the amateur and novice grades were well populated and the standard is certainly improving .Quality trumpets were very scarce , the Poets were appearing and mid afternoon a lot of locals came visiting .Judge Wayne Hughes faced about 270 blooms across all grades .
CHAMPION BLOOM , – 2Y – R – THUMBS UP , – Brian MacKenzie . A well coloured , goodsize bloom , in very good condition considering the weather .
RESERVE CHAMPION , – 9W – GYR , — HOOT OWL , – Diana Loader , Very round , very white , best of quite a few of these late starters .
Premier 2Y – Y , — SANDMERE GOLD , — Diane Irwin . Very smooth , good size , well presented .
Premier 2W – P , – TRANQUIL IMAGE , – – Dennis Rodgers .
Premier Double 4Y – Y , J F M sdlg 20 D – Y , – – John Mclennan . Proving consistent , the same variety that won at Otaki . Very neat , good gold colouring .
Premier Div 6 , FLIGHT PATH , – – John McLennan . A consistent little charmer .
Premier Div 7 , – YELLO DELLO , – – Diane Irwin , – Very smooth , difficult to colour code as the shades mature .
Premier Div 8 and Historic , 8 W – W – SILVER CHIMES , – – Diana Loader , An amazing 12 header of this old variety .
Premier Vase 3 , Div 8 , SILVER CHIMES , – Peter Tisjen , 3 fine heads , pot grown in Wellington .
Premier Vase Miniatures , – KOKOPELLI , — Malcolm Lind , – even colour , well staged by Malcolm , almost a “local ” again .
From the Amateur and Novice grades we had 3 fine Premier Flowers , – my apologies if I have the classes a little mixed .
Prem 2Y – YO , – CAMEO FRILLS , – Marg Matterson . Good size and condition , Marg is having a good season .
Premier 11Y – O , – MENEHEY , – Darra Robbie . , well presented , very flat and clean .
Premier 2W – WP , Unknown , – Ella Bishop , – We could not name this one , clean and neat in an interesting vase .
The display of the very old tazetta , SILVER CHIMES , in 2 vases on the top table at this show has a strong local connection .Probably 2 decades ago – last century , our tazetta expert and hybridist extraordinaire , WILF HALL , was winning the tazetta classes at most shows with his amazing new seedlings . But seldom at Rongotea . Long time local JOAN MARSHALL was consistently staging magnificent SILVER CHIMES . always clean , appearing virus free , tall , great bud count . It was seldom seen elsewhere as the old stock was very run down , stunted and stripey . Wilf enquired if he could see the stock , a very old planting in a traditional farm garden , seemingly well isolated from other daffs . The next sumer , bulbs were lifted thanks to Joans generosity and this fine line of SILVER CHIMES has become well distributed in the Central region . Late season for a tazetta , it was well grown by two exhibitors and looked exceptional on the top table at its ” home ” show .