Named after the Latin name for sword in reference to the shape of the plant’s leaves and flower spikes, gladioli are being grown and harvested by an Ashburton resident to give to others and raise money for charity.
Each summer Geoff Horrell, 85, harvests hundreds of them from a plot on the outskirts of town.
The blooms have many colours.
"I love glass. And I have grown them for many, many years. They are my favourite flower," he said.
He gives the flowers to friends, rest homes and churches.
Last year he had a surplus, so went to Samantha Rose Flowers to see if the Ashburton business was interested in selling them for charity.
A new partnership was born. On the days Geoff harvests the flowers each year, the florist sells them for $1 a stem, which goes to the Cancer Society.
Owner Samantha Trott said the stems sell as soon as they come.
"People love supporting the Cancer Society, and they are just nice vibrant colours," Trott said.
She said the flower’s traditional symbolic associations were particularly poignant, considering the cause they were going to help.
Geoff is so keen on gardening, his wife Jeannie sometimes says he’s married to the hobby.
He says he enjoys "just planting something and then producing something".
This summer, Geoff is expecting to harvest as many as 300 gladioli, compared to about 100 last year.
Next year he is expecting an even more bountiful crop of about 500.
Cancer Society Mid Canterbury community manager Aimee Cosgrove said the donation was very much appreciated.
"It’s just incredible that he’s willing to do that for us," she said.
"The money does go to local people to support them with their cancer needs."
