DAFFODILS of every shade of yellow, spectacular floral arrangements, native flowers, photography and artwork, fruit and vegetables once again decorated Leongatha’s Memorial Hall for the annual Leongatha Daffodil and Floral Show.
The show, held over four days, was officially opened last Thursday by Ian Rasmusson, South Gippsland Citizen of the Year and life member of the Leongatha Horticultural Society.
“It’s just such a wonderful display,” said Ian.
“Just the variety of plants and flowers are unending. Originally it was all daffodils, but now there’s natives in it as well, and it just adds so much to the show overall, and it’s great to get together with people of the same interest of flowers and garden.”
Maria from Milly and Romeo’s Café in Koonwarra was the main sponsor of the event and had the honour of presenting the Champion Daffodil of the show, won by Sue Thompson.
The winning daffodil is judged on overall symmetry, a perfectly round and even cup, straight petals, a strong, straight stem, and ideally is free of any blemishes.
“I have a huge patch. I have hundreds of daffodils,” explained Sue.
Despite yellow being Sue’s least favourite colour, her love of daffodils began over 20 years ago.
“I found a daffodil that wasn’t yellow and I started liking that, and then I’ve just sort of got into yellow,” she laughed.
“I really like lemon. This sort of thing. I love that,” Sue explained as she pointed out very pale lemon coloured daffodils.
“I have a lot of ones with white perianths (petals) and white cups.”
The avid gardener entered over 50 daffodils into the show, and her large daffodil patch pays homage to the late, enthusiastic daffodil breeder from Dumbalk, Ian Dyson.
Sue is a member of LHS and the secretary of the Daffodil Society, which inherited seedlings from Ian when he passed away.
“We inherited his seedlings and I’ve been looking after them ever since,” said Sue.
The champion daffodil came from one of Ian’s seedlings, and while it doesn’t yet have a name, there is a process in place.
“I’ve been selecting the ones that I think are worthy, and when we’ve assessed them and they multiply, we’ll name some.”
The range of colours and formations of daffodils on display are captivating and Sue explained each flower is different due to cross-pollination, by bees, self-pollination or by gardeners themselves.
“You can cross a pink one and a white one, and you get anything from pale pink to white and pink.”
“They grow easily from seed and some people think their daffodils have changed colour. But what’s happened, they’ve seeded, and the seeds have grown in amongst their bulbs and they’ve got the different colour from the seed.”
Sue admits she was worried they wouldn’t have many daffodils to exhibit at the show this year.
“There’s not a lot out there, and I just thought, well, I’ll just pick what I’ve got and bring some along.”
Unexpectedly, picking amongst them, the Champion Daffodil of the show.
