By the beginning of last week, more than 41,000 early-bird tickets had been sold for the first Christchurch Ellerslie International Flower Show.
That figure has thrilled the show's organisers and Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker described the sales as a magnificent lead-in to the show.
It does have a down side for those who have not bought tickets in advance, though, as sales for the first day of the show, March 11, will be limited.
Held in Auckland since its inception in 1994 until 2007, the Ellerslie show was bought by Christchurch City Council 15 months ago.
"Our bid was initially to host the garden show and pay an annual fee to do so, but then the opportunity arose to purchase the garden show outright and so secure its long-term future from 2008," Mr Parker said at the time.
Estimated to have been worth more than $14 million a year to the Auckland economy, the last Auckland Ellerslie show attracted 65,000 visitors in five days.
"The aim is for it to be a commercial success as well as having a public success," Mr Parker recently told a media conference in Christchurch.
He says Ellerslie "will play a key role in Christchurch not only reclaiming but also enhancing Christchurch's reputation as the Garden City".
Among the 28 exhibition gardens will be a design by rugby player Andy Ellis, one by six-time Ellerslie winner Ben Hoyle and a creation by first-time exhibitor and TV's Road to Ellerslie presenter Dan Rutherford.
Mr Rutherford's garden for Solid Energy - Microcosms - uses 20 tonnes of coal and 20,000 plants to create a West Coast environment.
A special guest will be Singaporean Peter Cheok, who will recreate Seeking Shangri-La, the surreal design that won him Best in Show and People's Choice at last year's Singapore Garden Festival.
In contrast, Project Lyttelton presents a practical community garden to highlight the advantages of using locally sourced and recycled materials and organic gardening.
And Canterbury Horticultural Society's A Taste of Tomorrow looks at what the future might hold for home gardeners.
Be there
Ellerslie International Flower Show will be held at North Hagley Park from March 11 to 15 and will feature horticultural exhibits, including 28 exhibition gardens.
Prices start at $28 for adults, $5 for children and there are group concessions.
Website: www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz
