The Central Daffodil Group opened the 2017 season with a small table show and group luncheon on Tuesday 8 August . After a warm and very wet autumn , we have had a very cold few weeks , with the weather just warming the last few days .The flowers responded and we were delighted with the response – twice the number of flowers and entries than 2016 , our first early show venture . We used the bar area and flat tables to give us a different version of tiered staging .
The Wedding Barn at Jennings Farm was again our venue and 9 exhibitors staging 122 flowers in 56 entries . As expected , tazettas , approaching peak season , were the highlight , with 49 stems on display .Judge Wayne Hughes enjoyed the challenge and commented the Kapiti – Horowhenua season was well ahead of his local area . Wayne selected 12 vases for the top table and the divisions covered reflected the early stage of the season .
The Champion Bloom , taken from a vase of three , was 2W – P TE RANGI PAI , a reliable early pink raised by Max Hamilton , grown and exhibited by NDS President , John Hollever .
The Reserve Champion was a very diminutive bulbicodium , BULBICODIUM CITRINUS , stage by Julie Harris .
Premier Vase , Div 1 , — RAETIHI , 1Y – Y , — John Hollever
Premier Vase Div 2 , 2Y – W seedling , – – John Hollever .
Premier Vase Div 6 , RAPTURE , – – John Hollever .
Premier Vase Tazettas , – AVALANCHE , – Julie Harris .Julie is the master of staging tazetta heads , getting them to sit beautifully and beating 14 other tazetta vases .
Premier Vase Miniatures , – 3 seedlings 8Y – O , – Wilfred Hall .
Premier Div 1 , 1Y – Y sdlg , – John Hollever .
Premier Div 2 , 2W – W sdlg , 27 / 97 , – — Reg & Rita Cull .
Premier Div 4 , JFM sdlg 10 – 6 , 4W – W , – John McLennan . This was easily the biggest flower in the show .
Premier NOE , Div 11 Split sdlg , – John Hollever .
Premier Historic , KING ALFRED , – Reg & Rita Cull .
Premier Pot , – INCA, 6Y – W , — Diane Irwin . Diane is mastering the art of pot growing and has over 100 slowly awakening .
Wow John. So early in the season and some high quality blooms. Many of my cultivars have still to come through the ground so a good looking 2W-P in early August is amazing.
Thanks for the post John, it looks like you had some very nice flowers there yesterday. It is very early up here as well this year, several varieties that flower mid season are almost out. Most of the Tazettas are finished. Regards Robin
Thanks for posting, John. The flowers look amazing for early-earlies, very diverse. I believe we would only have Div 6 Y-Ys blooming with bulbocodiums if we had the equivalent show in terms of
earliness. And yes, Julie Harris is a fantastic stager of tazettas! Ask her to do a You Tube video for us! I am hopeless at it. (I just thought it was because they have a mind of their own.)
The Pimms and Punch sign is adorable, too. (PIMMS –> lots of alcohol.) Hahahahaha! Sort of made my day!
Suzy Wert