Nerines ready to sparkle for their festival
SEVERAL thousand flowers have filled a greenhouse at Guernsey Gardens in preparation for the upcoming Plant Heritage Guernsey Nerine Festival, which celebrates the island’s national flower.
Nerine Sarniensis, also known as the Guernsey Lily, will be on display for public viewing at Guernsey Gardens for two weeks starting this Saturday.
Nerine Festival organiser Rose Rankilor said this was the 21st year the free event had taken place.
‘The best nerines will be displayed to their advantage – we will keep an eye on them to refresh and renew them so when people come, they see the very best of the nerines,’ she said.
Ms Rankilor said hundreds of the eye-catching flowers would be on show.
‘The festival shows off Guernsey’s national flower and brings attention to them.’
Plant Heritage Guernsey nerine sub-group leader Andrew Lanoe added: ‘When the weather is nice like this, the nerines sparkle in the sun.’
They said the event was typically popular, especially with tourists.
‘It’s very popular with visitors coming to the island – some come every year just so they can see them,’ said Ms Rankilor.
‘Fortunately, the Nerine Festival coincides with the Tennerfest, so it’s quite a popular break for visitors.’
She said many people were surprised at the flowers’ characteristic chocolate scent and their variety of colours.
‘We have some white and pale pink, right through to deep red and going into purple.
‘We want to share them.
‘It’s lovely to bring them to people’s attention and that’s one reason why we’re here as a charity.’
Mr Lanoe described some of the flower’s rich history – it has South African origins.
‘From 1650 they were exported and known as the Guernsey Lily,’ he said.
The Nerine Festival is open this Saturday from 2.30-4pm and will continue for two weeks between 10am and 4pm before coming to a close on Saturday 23 October.
