HAMERSLEY Community Recreation Centre will fill with colour next month when the Gerbera Research Group holds its annual show.
The group has members across the northern suburbs, including Mary and Ed Renton, of Hillarys, who grow hundreds of the flowers.
The Rentons joined the group about six years ago to learn more about growing the flowers and recently completed a course to become judges.
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READ NOWLast year Mrs Renton won prizes at the show for the best single and triple gerberas – the latter has three overlapping layers of petals.
“People who grow them are really attached to them,” she said.
“They are the most popular plant apart from roses in Australia.
“They don’t like the cold, so this weather here suits them.
“They are a happy plant (and) they flower all year around.
“You need to spend a bit of time with them – you can’t really neglect them or you wouldn’t get the flowers you want.”
Mr Renton said his wife had been growing gerberas since they married about 56 years ago and now had about 118 plants in big pots.
He has hundreds more plants, and will often have a display in shopping centres to raise awareness of the research group.
“When you put them on show you’ve got to dress them; you’ve got to pretty the flowers,” he said, adding that might involve removing imperfect petals and rearranging others.
Mr Renton said their research involved testing products like potting mixes and members would discuss results of each trial.
The Gerbera Research Group will hold its annual championship show and pot sale on Saturday, May 6 at the Hamersley Community Recreation Centre on Belvedere Road.
The show is open from 10am to 3pm, with dividing demonstrations about 11am, noon and 1pm.
For more information, call Jan on 9342 2173 and gerberaresearch@hotmail.com.
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