SC lily show hailed as biggest in history
The South Canterbury Lily Group enjoyed its most successful lily show in history over the weekend.
About 18 of the group’s members, and about 10 new participants, contributed 670 entries to the show, which was held at Roncalli College Hall on Saturday and Sunday, South Canterbury Lily Group committee chairman John Jackson said.
‘‘It was very, very successful,’’ he said.
Of the 670 entries, 205 were photographs, and 465 were lilies.
There was a floral art display as well.
One entrant contributed 120 of the entries, although that was not an unusually high number, Jackson said.
‘‘It’s the biggest show in South Canterbury history,’’ Jackson said.
‘‘It was twice as big as the New Zealand Lily Show which was on the same weekend,’’ he said.
Usually the New Zealand show, which was held in Christchurch, would run the week before the South Canterbury one.
However, its date was changed late last year, resulting in a date clash between the two, Jackson said.
A number of SC group members opted to show at the SC show instead of the NZ show, he said.
Members of the Otago Lily Group, the Auckland Lily Group, and a busload of 30 people from Auckland attended the South Canterbury show, Jackson said.
‘‘Each of them was totally blown away by the show.’’
‘‘If anyone missed it, missed a real treat.’’
Group committee member and lily breeder Des Paulson showed off his newest lily called Leonie, having spent the previous 20 years breeding lilies to they get its characteristics. It bloomed for the first time last week.
‘‘I didn’t exhibit it, I just took it down as an exhibition piece,’’ Paulson said.
Leonie was met with a lot of interest by those who visited the show, he said.
‘‘Most people were just talking about how beautiful it was.’’
Paulson won the premier bloom with an orange and gold, un-named floret, and was also named runner-up in the stems category with a cream and red, down-facing Aurelian.