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The Ōrewa Garden Club is preparing for its annual Spring Show, a highlight of the year for a vibrant group that marks its 45th birthday next year.
The September 14 show at the St John’s Catholic Church hall will see entrants compete for placings in 14 classes including orchids, succulents and bromeliads, and for two top trophies.
From fewer than 10 members meeting in a home in 1979, today the club holds monthly meetings in the church hall, with numbers capped at 125 due to the venue’s size. There’s even a waiting list.
Members are mostly women, but men are welcome, with two such hardy souls among the current crop. An 18-strong committee oversees everything from catering to first aid.
Activities include speakers, competitions and two popular bus trips a year. Members also do voluntary gardening at Harbour Hospice, and Youth in Transition’s retreat in Waitoki.
Club secretary Valma Pettit joined about five years ago, after moving into the area.
“My reason for joining was that I’d go to the supermarket and there wasn’t a smiling face, no-one to talk to or exchange a greeting with,” she says. “So I thought, gosh, you’ve got to join a club, get to know the locals.”
Five years on she sees friendly faces everywhere – and “shopping takes double the time!”
Linda Mellor was also a newcomer to the area. Invited by a neighbour, she went onto the waiting list before being able to join four years ago. Now she’s the club’s newly-elected president.
Asked whether this year’s exceptional rainfall may affect the standard of the competition, Linda says it’ll be interesting to see what entries are presented, but points out that when it comes to the weather, gardeners are “all in the same boat”.
The show is open to the public, $5 at the door. For more details, contact: orewagardenclub@outlook.co.nz
