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Have some respect for the humble taro. While the Pacific Islands palate delights in its starchy consistency, few appreciate its aesthetic value.
A floral arrangement that had taro nestled in and among a spray of bright red antheriums surrounded by ginger, hallyconias and coconut leaves made a popular exhibit at this years Ellerslie Flower Show.
Coconuts and kumara completed the medley and the final product was a stunner that was unmistakably Pacific.
Flower-mad florists from Fiji are nuts about the Ellerslie Flower Show in Auckland. They scrimp and save every spare dime for the annual pilgrimage to the most spectacular horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere.
And the opportunity to rub shoulders with people who are as potty about flowers as they are is just too good to miss.
But of far greater significance is their contribution to the Twinings Floral Art and Design Marquee where the brilliant red, orange and green exotic flora typical to the tropics enthuse a wonderful contrast to the conventional displays and native fauna.
They are so Pacific with their arrangements with leaves and flowers so different from the more traditional exhibits, says Vicki Salmon, Chief Executive of the Ellerslie Flower Show.
Their exhibits are always lovely because of the way they put things together. The rest of the exhibitors in the Twinings Floral Art Marquee enjoy their enthusiasm, they sing, they are relaxed and have a really lovely time.
Ms Salmon says the cross cultural exchanges that take place under the marquees allows for a busy traffic of ideas that has become a hallmark for the show.
Everyone learns from each other. I know exhibitors pick up a lot of ideas from the Fiji florists from the way they arrange their displays.
Strict quarantine rules permit only four varieties of Fiji grown flowers to be flown in for the Ellerslie Flower Show - antheriums, hallyconias, ginger and orchids.
Floral art designer and lecturer Jimi Montu deserves much of the credit for
utilising the Pacific element to good effect at the Ellerslie Flower Show.
You are spoilt for choice here while you have oasis readily available and pricey
adornments that enhance the
displays, we in the Pacific make do with banana trunks, sand, twigs and coconut and pandanus leaves, Jimi says.
But the end product is exquisite. It won the peoples vote in 1998 and has proven to be a popular crowd pleaser every year.
The Fiji florists who took part this year came in two streams the Association of Cutflowers and Plant Growers of Fiji and the Suva Orchid and Horticultural Circle.
The baggage they lug back home is not only full of bargains from The Warehouse but is chocka block full of ideas on floral artistry, colour matching, blending foliage with the petalled variety, smart landscaping secrets plus much much more.
Floriculture is just starting to bud in Fiji. Wait for it to blossom!
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