Daffodil Festival blooms for 60th milestone year
A SUCCESSFUL Daffodil Festival fit for a 60th anniversary wowed Leongatha last week.
Festival regulars were impressed with the fresh new layout of the Daffodil and Floral Show in Memorial Hall, which expertly showcased all the entries in each category.
Opening on Thursday and closing on Saturday, there were plenty of extra special things happening around the town to celebrate the 60th anniversary.
The milestone was resounded particularly during the Daffodil and Floral Show, where participants and visitors received a Daffodil Festival themed showbag full of gardening goodies, 60th themed floral art was proudly on display, and the Daffodil and Floral Show winners received beautiful crystal trophies as a sparkly award.
A highlight at the official opening was the welcome from well known television presenter, author and gardener Stephen Ryan.
“It’s fabulous to see a country town doing what you are doing,” Mr Ryan said during the official opening of the festival.
“This is a fantastic place for people to come in, learn about flowers and have a little harmless competition. It gives you a great sense of community and makes the town buzz.”
Leongatha Horticultural Society president Sue Thompson said Mr Ryan’s enthusiasm brought excellent energy to the festival and festival goers were looking forward to talking to him about his extensive gardening knowledge.
Leongatha’s Glenice Griggs was applauded at the opening for picking up the grand prize for champion daffodil.
Once again, the open gardens were a hit and the decorative shop windows around town set the atmosphere for visitors.
People were also impressed with the growing number of children’s displays. Children – particularly from the local primary schools and children’s centre – were encouraged to grow daffodils and broad beans, design floral art, present a photo with a garden theme, or create a creature from horticultural materials.
“The children do an amazing job. Everything they’ve entered is simply fantastic,” Ms Thompson said.
The Star asked Ms Thompson if the show would continue next year, she was hopeful it would return to the town.
“It’s too good of a show to lose and I hope it continues for quite a few years to come,” she said.
“We’ve still got exhibitors more than willing to be involved and there isn’t a lot going on in the town for the older generation.
“There’s sport and things like that for younger people, so it’s good to have something that allows the entire community to be involved. It’s a very inclusive event.”
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Milestone: Mount Eccles’ Christine Corbridge designed and created a beautiful floral art piece to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Leongatha Daffodil Festival. The floral art can be admired in the foyer of Memorial Hall.
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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Aug 30 2016. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
