FLOWER lovers will not want to miss this weekend’s Portland Dahlia and Rose Show, believed to be the biggest of its kind in Australia.
And if visitors are still in town on Sunday afternoon, they can even load up with colourful blooms and take them home.
Portland Dahlia Society secretary Ian Hamley said exhibitors would normally discard their displays after the show, so the public were most welcome to take whatever flowers they liked.
“We’ll have plenty to give away,” he said.
The 55th annual event will showcase magnificent dahlias, roses and other cut flowers grown locally, around Victoria and South Australia.
“Despite challenging growing conditions this year, especially wind and heat up north and wind here in Portland, we’ve still got some nice blooms,” Mr Hamley said.
“We’ve also had inquiries from potential new competitors so it may be our biggest show yet with up to 30 exhibitors.”
As well as the open, novice and intermediate categories for dahlias, there will be special sections for children and home gardeners, roses, floral art, pot plants and cut flowers.
This year will feature a memorial event to honour Alf Hardingham, a founding member of the Portland Dahlia Society, who died last year aged 81, just after the 2023 show. The handicap event is open to all.
Doors at the Civic Centre in Bentinck Street will open to the public tomorrow at 11am, following judging, and at 9.30am on Sunday, when award presentations will be held from 3pm.
Entry is free for exhibitors and $5 for visitors.
To view the weekend schedule, visit portlanddahliasocietyinc.com.au.
