The New Zealand Rhododendron Association Conference 2008 will be coming to Geraldine from Tuesday, October 28 until Friday, October 31 at the picturesque Woodbury Hall and domain 6km away.
Woodbury is a small settlement renowned for its rhododendron plantings in public areas. It could informally be called the rhododendron capital of South Canterbury.
It is South Canterbury Rhododendron Group's turn to host the annual conference, which alternates between the North and South Islands and has been held every year since 1944. Registration forms were posted this week.
The South Canterbury Rhododendron Group formed 34 years ago and is one of the largest groups of its kind in New Zealand with about 136 families as members.
Joint secretary Joy O'Keefe, of Woodbury, is part of a hardworking team responsible for the staging of one of the most popular gardening conferences in New Zealand.
‘‘We are endeavouring to make the Woodbury event a memorable one and I am lucky to be working with a talented team of hard workers,'' Mrs O'Keefe said.
Her team also included president of the South Canterbury group Raymond Smith and treasurer Anne Johnstone, of Timaru.
Her husband Bernie is also on the organising committee and the O'Keefes grow rhododendrons commercially.
‘‘Springtime is rhody time, but it can be sheer luck to have all the blooms looking their best for any three particular days,'' Mrs O'Keefe said.
‘‘But our region is as good as anywhere in New Zealand for rhododendrons and up with the best areas in Australia such as the Blue Mountains. So we expect a great show.''
Rhododendrons are alpine plants originating from the Himalayas where they were first collected for blooms and for firewood. The plant can be found in a wide arc across the northern borders of India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Myanmar and it is in their foothills that the most stunning specimens of the rhododendron species are to be found.
Mrs O'Keefe said the best specimens available locally would be displayed for conference attendees and the general public in the Woodbury conference hub, which would include the hall, the domain and two large marquees.
A specially chartered shuttle bus would meet conference attendees at Christchurch Airport on the Tuesday afternoon and bring them direct to the Woodbury Hall, remaining available to ferry participants to and from their Geraldine accommodation and around a selection of the district's finest rhododendron gardens, Mrs O'Keefe said. The bus would then return to Christchurch on the Friday.
South Canterbury group vice-president Rosie Morten, of the Orari Estate, said 12 properties had been chosen to showcase rhododendrons in South Canterbury and they would also have international visitors.
‘‘An American travel agent and member of the American Rhododendron Society was bringing a group on a tour of the South Island to coincide with the Woodbury conference,'' Mrs Morten said.
Also from America was the conference's guest speaker Richie Steffen who was the curator of the Elisabeth Miller Garden in North Seattle, she said.
He had explored plants in Turkey and South America. His address would be the focal point of activities on Wednesday October 29.
And in keeping with the international theme was an entertainment package which would feature an internationally acclaimed opera singer, ‘‘the identity of whom we cannot reveal yet'', Mrs Morten said.
