A flower traditionally associated with strength, power and integrity is working its wonders in Ashburton.
Named from the Latin name for sword, referring to the shape of the plant’s leaves and flower spikes, gladioli are being grown and harvested by a resident for the purpose of giving them to others and raising money for charity.
Each summer Geoff harvests hundreds from a plot on the outskirts of town.
‘‘I love glads,’’ the 85-yearold said of the blooms of many colours.
‘‘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 each stem which goes to the cancer society.
Owner Samantha Trott said the stems sell quickly as soon as they come in on the several days each summer Geoff harvests.
‘‘People love supporting the cancer society, and they are just nice vibrant colours,’’ Trott said.
She added the flower’s traditional symbolic associations were particularly poignant considering the cause they were going to help. Geoff Horrell of Ashburton grows the gladiolis on a plot on a friend’s farm, rotating the flowery crop with potatoes and vegetables.
Geoff said he is so keen about gardening his wife Jeannie sometimes says he’s married to the hobby. ‘‘Just planting something, and then producing something’’, is what he enjoys.
This summer, he is expecting to altogether harvest as many as 300 gladioli, following 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 equivalent dollar donation received by the society 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.’’
