The daffodils are blooming, which means the Southland spring flower shows – and daylight saving - are just around the corner.

The Winton Garden Club has been busy preparing the Winton Spring Flower Show, organising stunning flower and art displays for the event, which will go ahead next week.

Members of the public are encouraged to bring along their best blooms and enter them in one or as many of the nine categories as they like. 

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Co-organiser of the show Marilyn McKenzie said this was the 37th spring flower show hosted by the Winton Garden Club and they loved putting it on every year as it was a great chance to connect with community – as well as see some stunning floral displays.

“We just encourage [people] to come along and enjoy taking part.”

Mrs McKenzie said as well as floral competitions there would be flower and art displays at the event.

“It’s incredible the displays that come through from local people,” she said. 

“We also have creative flax weaving display crafted by Bronc Morgan and we have a local artist, Helen Coulter who upcycles old LP records and creates what she calls “Recorded Art”.

The show will run from Friday, September 25, 2pm to 6pm and Saturday, September 26, 9am to 3.30pm at the Winton Memorial Hall.

Winton artist Helen Coulter has made flower artwork from LP records, titled ‘Recorded Art’. PHOTO: Supplied

Entries for each category are taken the day before (Thursday, September 24) from 11am to 6pm. 

Entry is $5 for adults and children can enter for free. 

The nine categories are: Daffodils – open, Daffodils – amateur, Daffodils – novice, Cut flowers, Flowering trees and shrubs, Dwarf miniature alpine and rock, Vegetable, Floral art, and a category for children’s entries.

Afternoon tea is also provided, courtesy of the Winton Garden Club. 

Te Anau Flower Show on October 2 & 3

The following weekend, on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3, Te Anau will host its 47th spring flower show.

Coordinator Judy Matthews said the flower show organisers were “looking forward to having some great exhibitors, judges and daffodil growers back again,” such as Bill Cowie – the Southland daffodil growing legend, who would be selling his daffodils at the event.

Mrs Matthews said all entries to the event were free this year as organisers wanted to give back to the community, which had been hit hard by the effects of COVID-19. 

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“We wanted to give our community something to come and enjoy. Our Fiordland community has been really hit hard with the tourists not coming…. we’re just a very small town and things have been hard, so it’s free and it just gives everyone something to enjoy,” she said.

She encouraged locals to pick some flowers and daffodils out of their gardens and enter them in the competition categories. 

Entries are taken on Thursday October 1 from 2pm till 7pm, with staging tables available from 10am. 

Depending on their daffodil growing skills, participants can choose to enter their blooms in the following categories: Open, Intermediate, Amateur and Novice.There is also a section for Cut Flowers and Floral Art.

Children are also encouraged to enter. There are five categories for children: Painting, Miniature Garden, Daffodil arrangement, 3D Nature exhibit, Craft article.

Doors open to the public between 2pm and 6pm on the Friday and on Saturday from 9am to 3pm. 

Afternoon tea and raffles tickets will also be available.