Crowds flock to Shows first day

More than 16,000 visitors attended the opening day of the Ellerslie International Flower Show in Christchurch’s North Hagley Park today - the biggest first day attendance in ten years.

Thousands of visitors braved the cold wrapped in coats, scarves and carrying umbrellas to ward off the intermittent rain to be among the first to view the horticultural and floral exhibits at this year’s event.

Visitors echoed the judges’ comments that “the show is excellent” and they simply “loved it”.

The crowds are flocking to the City Care Hort Galore Marquee to view the Gold Medal and double Supreme Award winning Bush Telly exhibit. The exhibit features a rustic shed, adjoining nursery and a stream in which 40 interviews with people saving New Zealand’s native plants and animals are being filmed during the Show.

The Starlight Marquee is also proving popular, with visitors keen to view the Seeking Shangri-La exhibit from Singapore and the multi-gold award-winning Microcosms West Coast garden by Dan Rutherford for Solid Energy.

Ellerslie Managing Director Dave Mee said despite the weather conditions, visitors were excited about the Show and taking their time to enjoy all aspects of Ellerslie from the exhibition gardens, Hort Galore Marquees, Floral Art Marquee and Starlight Marquee to the Countdown Woolworths Marquee, numerous retail stores and the Jenny Gillies Wearable Weeds fashion show.

“The weather has certainly not dampened people’s spirits.

“The forecast is good for the next few days which will allow people to enjoy the Show’s more than 80 horticultural exhibits and 25 exhibition gardens with a little sunshine.”

The Ellerslie International Flower Show is at North Hagley Park until 6pm this Sunday 15 March.