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Vibrant colour, sweet perfume and a flourish of local creativity greeted visitors at the Village Library Hall on November 19, as the annual Mangawhai Flower Show blossomed spectacularly for its fourth year.
Locally grown blooms created a kaleidoscope of flower artistry, from sculpted single roses, wildflower bouquets and carefully crafted vases, along with ‘flora dresses’ and baskets of fresh home-grown produce. Outside, growers and food stall vendors braved the weather, tempting visitors with plants for sale and hot refreshments.
The classic grassroots event is brought to the community by coordinators Laureen Medcalfe and Sandra Brunt, and their dedicated team of volunteers.
Mangawhai Community Gardens repeated its success of last year with a sumptuous vegetable basket, earning the group a garden bench. Rebecca Evans won a birdbath for her striking table centre display, while Emma McLeish received a pair of urns for her springtime arrangement.
Laureen praised the “incredible community support” from major sponsors Faraway Gardens, plus New World Mangawhai and Egmont Seed Co, as well as Te Arai’s Heritage Roses team and the Little Flower Growers, who generously donated bouquets for the judges.
“Big thanks to everyone who came and helped out, to Kate and Rob for putting up with our madness every year, and to our wonderful judges and volunteers,” she said. “We’re so lucky to have such a fabulous team who give their all. The show keeps growing and gets better every year.”
