Seeds for Canterbury at the Spring Flower and National Daffodil Show.

A host of golden daffodils and some unusual variants of the species will star in a special free show at the Canterbury Horticultural Society’s Hall in Hagley Park over the weekend of September 24th and 25th.

The daffodil was recently voted second favourite flower of Canterbury by members and friends of the society and its green shoots are widely regarded as the first encouraging sign of Spring across the region.

Visitors to the show can enjoy seeing a number of unusual varieties of Narcissi on display at this year’s annual show and are welcome to take home free seeds donated from across the country by readers of New Zealand Gardener, who launched a seed drive initiative back in June to benefit garden enthusiasts across the region to help the Garden City bloom again after the earthquakes.

Shirley Russ, CHS Manager said of the seed donation, “Cantabrians may be a staunch bunch but even the hardiest plants need to have the right conditions to grow, and constantly shaking ground is not one of them. NZ Gardener’s seed drive is a lift in the right direction for many who have had to shift or lost beloved plants due to liquefaction and damage to their gardens”.

The daffodil originates from Greek mythology where a young man called Narcissus became so obsessed with his own reflection as he kneeled and gazed into a pool of water that he fell into the water and drowned. The Narcissus plant first sprang from where he died and became known as the Daffodil.

Canterbury Horticultural Society’s legacy is built upon generations of garden enthusiasts and the many beautiful gardens across the region that gives Christchurch and Canterbury its unique identity.

Founded in 1861, the Canterbury Horticultural Society is one of the oldest gardening groups in New Zealand. The Canterbury Horticultural Society is celebrating its 150th anniversary throughout 2011.

ends

© Scoop Media