The bloomin’ best

108090_01 Vivien Bond, the 2012 Grand Champion at the St Mark’s Women’s Guild Rose Festival, won two prizes this year, including for her bowl of roses.

THE sudden change from winter chill to summer heat this year has affected flowering times, but still the St Mark’s Women’s Guild managed a magnificent display of roses at their annual Rose Festival last week.
There were 82 entries, including newcomers who took away some of the prizes on offer, said an organiser, Sue Nalder.
“It was great to have some first-time entrants take out prizes, especially Ann-Maree Butler, just starting to grow roses and who had been persuaded by her mother to enter,” Ms Nalder said.
“We were especially delighted to welcome a group of 14 from (aged persons hostel) Leslie Place, Killarney.
“We made special provision for their wheelchairs and they appeared to enjoy themselves.”
Ms Nalder said the early heat meant her finest flowers bloomed a couple of weeks early, but others had time their flowering to fall behind the St Mark’s event and the horticultural show at St Mary’s this week.
Champion Rose was won by Joy O’Leary, while Reserve Champion was Shirley White.