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Anyone who’s grown fantastic flowers or vigorous veggies this summer should head to Warkworth Town Hall on February 14 for Warkworth Garden Club’s annual show.
This will be the second late summer show for the group – in the past, members staged a rose and flower show in November, but moved it back by three months last year to broaden its appeal.
Show convenor Annette Sharp says it was a big change, but proved largely successful, with more exhibitors and a much wider range of flowers on show.
“It went well. There were still some roses shown, but it was the dahlias that really shone,” she says.
“There were people there who’ve never exhibited before and it got us a few new members, too.”
The date change also meant that veggie growers got a look-in for the first time in many years.
“November’s not good for a lot of vegetables, so last year was the first time we’d had a vegetable class for a very long time.”
This year’s show will feature a brand new class, again with a nod to the event’s timing, this time for preserves. There will be six sections – marmalade, jam, jelly, sauce, bottled preserves, and a pickle, chutney or relish.
The precise date of the flower show – February 14 – has also not gone unnoticed in this year’s schedule, with a class for A Valentine’s Arrangement in the General Flowers & Foliage section.
One of the nine trophies on offer has already been decided for 2025 – the Wilkinson Salver, which is awarded to commercial or community areas that make an aesthetic contribution to Warkworth. The judges have picked two winners this year – the Mahurangi riverside light installation Te Hokinga Mahara – A Collection of Memories and the flower beds between Warkworth’s clock tower and information centre.
There are four show sections – Dahlias, sponsored by Withers & Co; General Flowers & Foliage (including pots), sponsored by Central Landscape Supplies; Preserves, sponsored by Life Pharmacy Franklins; and Fruit & Vegetables, sponsored by Paxton-Penman lawyers. Within those sections, there are 36 individual classes: seven for dahlias, 17 for flowers and plants, six for preserves, and six fruit and veg.
There is no limit to the number of entries per person in each class, nor any on the size of any potted entries – if you can carry it, you can enter it, Sharp says – though all entries must have been grown (or made, for preserves) by entrants, except in the two floral arrangement classes.
As well as the cups and trophies, the exhibitor with the most points in each section will win a $50 voucher.
Entrants can register on show day – the town hall doors will open to exhibitors at 7.30am and all exhibits must be staged by 9.30am. Judging will take place behind closed doors from 10am to noon, when general admission will open until 5pm, with a prizegiving at 1pm.
There will also be plant sales and raffles, and admission costs $2, under 16s free.
Show schedules are available from Mahurangi Matters, as well as Warkworth, Mahurangi East and Point Wells Libraries.
Info: https://www.warkworthgardenclub.co.nz or contact Annette Sharp on 422 7766.
