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GEORGE NEWS - A record number of plants, people and sales topped the 12th annual show of the Garden Route Clivia Club.
The judges traveled from KwaZulu-Natal and Bloemfontein to give their expert opinion on more than 300 plants. The exhibition was held on 23 and 24 September in the Presbyterian Church hall.
According to the club's chairman, Karl Rost, over 850 visitors came to view the Clivias.
"We had 29 more plants than last year and a record amount of visitors and plant sales," said Rost.
Some of the visitors and growers came from as far as Nelspruit, Johannesburg and Natal. "People are more and more aware of clivias. They are also looking for colour - peach, green and apricot colours - not just orange."
Some of the beautiful flowers on display.
Click here for a photo gallery.
According to Rost the tendency is to cultivate clivias with shorter leaves, to fit into smaller spaces. The Southern Cape is one of the last places in the country to have clivias in bloom this time of the year.
"It's been a late year," said Rost. "We don't really know exactly why. There are a lot of philosophers in this industry. You think you know a lot about the plants but in reality we know so little."
Gerhard and Karen Faber won Best on Show Gold whilst Ricky and Noelia Jardim won Best on Show Silver and Bronze.
A little boy was fascinated with the figurines.
Karl Rost won the category Best on Show Own Breeding. Kerneels Buitendag won Best on Show Variegated Leaves with Willie Freund winning Best on Show Non-variegated Leaves.
The public voted for their favourite plant and the winners of the People's Choice Award are Kobus and Ida Esterhuizen.
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: MICHELLE PIENAAR, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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