This year the North Otago Horticultural Society's spring show and North Otago Orchid Society's annual show are both on the same weekend, offering garden lovers a feast.
Orchid grower Evelyn Clarke has brought some of her best plants indoors from the glasshouse into the conservatory to encourage blooms to open fully in time for the show.
They includes her prize-winning paphiopedilum gratrixianum orchid, which won its section in 2008, but was not as good last year because she had split the plant.
This year she is looking to repeat the performance from two years ago.
Orchid show organiser Daphne McKay is expecting entries from as far away as Christchurch, although this year the number may be affected by the national show which was held in New Plymouth two weeks ago.
The show, in St Patrick's Hall, will feature work by the North Otago woodturners' group and a floral demonstration on how to work with orchids.
For the first time, the North Otago Floral Art Group will be staging its annual Designer of the Year competition with the North Otago horticultural spring show.
Group president Helen Wallace said about a dozen contestants were expected in the novice and senior sections, working to a theme of "Bundled Nature", which will be judged by Val Ransom, of Dunedin.
Horticultural society president Connie Rayne expects up to 400 entries at the Scottish Hall, with daffodils one of the main attractions.
Other sections include the best of cut flowers, pot plants, hanging baskets, floral art, shrubs, children's section, vegetables and fruit.
"A braggers' corner is always a talking point.
"It's judged by public vote and can be anything from the spectacular to the unusual grown by an exhibitor," she said.
