"Loving and caring" is the theme for the 42nd Ecumenical Festival of Flowers in Praise, which will be held in St Paul's Cathedral from February 14 to 17.
Entry to the festival is by gold-coin donation and the Otago Community Hospice will benefit from donations.
"All the money goes to the chosen charity," committee member Gaynor Earl said.
The festival originally took place at a different church each year, but several years ago it was decided to make Dunedin's Anglican cathedral its permanent home.
This year, 44 churches will be represented, and there will also be floral arrangements exhibited by some individuals, including Ecumenical Festival of Flowers in Praise president Valerie Nelson.
"It's not competitive," committee member Muriel Braid said.
"It's their own choice but Valerie [Nelson] impresses on people the need to make displays big and tall to go with the pillars," Mrs Earl said.
As well as the floral displays, there will be a plant and produce stall, which Mrs Braid will co-ordinate.
"We ask for 10 potted plants from each church and the nurseries give us things," Mrs Braid said.
Mrs Earl makes pickles from cauliflowers grown by her husband, Fred, and Mr Earl donates rhubarb to sell.
The emphasis is on keeping items affordable, with $5 generally the maximum price, which makes the stall very popular.
"We raised about $1000 on the plant stall last year and hopefully we'll do it again this year," Mrs Braid said.
Planning for the Ecumenical Festival of Flowers in Praise starts about October, churches are contacted in November and from there, everything seems to go without a hitch.
"That's because we're such old hands," Mrs Earl said.
However, therein lies a problem - the majority of the committee are older and they would like to see some younger people join the group.
•See it
The Ecumenical Festival of Flowers in Praise in St Paul's Cathedral, Octagon, Dunedin, will be open on February 14 and 15 from noon to 5pm, with the official opening on the Sunday at 2pm; February 16, 9.30am to 5pm; and February 17, 9.30am to 4pm.
