The view from Dick Booth’s farm is impressive taking in some of Gladstone’s most scenic elements, from its rolling hills and historic places, to the thriving Gladstone Vineyard and Fairmount Estate Winery. Looking out, it’s immediately apparent why seven generations of the Booth family has enjoyed living and working the land of one of the Wairarapa’s oldest and most well-known farms since Mr E.A Booth took over the property in the 1890s when the family first lived in a cottage near the creek.

“Over the years there’s been a lot of history associated with this farm and it’s something we’ve most probably taken for granted at times,” said former Carterton councilor Dick Booth, who oversees the 700 acre working farm with his brother Bryant. “But there’s no escaping this is a very special and unique place.”

What is most special about Middlerun Farm is that in spring 12 acres of farm land become a kaleidoscope of yellow and white, as the famous Middlerun Daffodils bloom. Over 30 varieties of daffodils - some of which are over 100-years old - are estimated to emerge from the soil, providing the thousands of visitors to the farm gate every year with a spectacular sight.

“It’s an absolute joy to see thousands of people walking up the drive and watching the expressions on their faces,” said Dick. “You can tell the sheer plethora of daffodils and that amazing view has just made their day – it’s just great.”

The history of the daffodils goes back to the 1890s when Mr EA Booth began to lay out a garden around his home, planting numerous daffodil bulbs. Over the years various family members continued the tradition and in 1919 Mr WH Booth set aside a seven acre paddock for the sole purpose of growing daffodils. With the help of his son Harry, he broadcast half a ton of bulbs over the area and ploughed them in, before taking stock of his efforts every spring when the paddock was a mass of gold. In 1925 Richard Booth’s grandmother recommended the blooms be used for a worthwhile cause and recommended the Carterton Plunket Society could pick the daffodils and sell them. Groups of women would pick the flowers before they were sent to the Wellington flower market at which time Plunket received sixpence a dozen. However some years later the Committee agreed to stop sending the flowers to Wellington and instead open Middlerun Farm to the public for one or two Sundays every September, charging admission at the gate.

In 1983 the Booth family decided to include Carterton Area St John as well as Carterton Plunket Society, in their fundraising plans. Then in the mid 1990s when the Carterton District Council instigated the Carterton Daffodil Carnival, Middlerun Farm was a likely partner with buses and vans shuttling people between the township and the farm. Over the years thousands of dollars have been raised – including a record $7300 in 2007 - for both Plunket and St John, while Dick and Diana Booth were both honored for their fundraising efforts by St John. The story has also been captured in print with Ministry of Education Junior Journal 22 featuring a story by Phillipa Werry entitled: Spring at Middlerun.

This tradition has continued until today and is likely to for future generations.

Mark your diary - From picking flowers at Middlerun in a time-honored tradition, to viewing impressive art works and tasting delectable local produce, this year’s Carterton Daffodil Carnival has all the options covered.

On the second Sunday in September Carterton will be abuzz with people celebrating the historic town’s annual Daffodil Carnival. The popular event attracts around 15,000 people and has live entertainment, fresh produce, over 120 stalls featuring local crafts and art, and children’s entertainment. The artistically-inclined can seek out Wairarapa’s answer to the New Zealand Affordable Arts Show; The Big Wai Art Sale, a huge cash and carry exhibition of over 300 artworks from Wairarapa’s large, active arts community.

Visitors from out of town, including the thousands who will catch the Main Line Steam Train from Wellington, will wander Carrington Park, soaking up the hubbub of people enjoying their Spring outing.

A local Carterton tradition is daffodil picking at Middlerun, a historic property at Gladstone (see story on page 40). Buses leave the clock tower every half hour on Carnival day for the ten-minute scenic trip out to the Booth farm, where the family generously makes a 7-acre paddock available to the public just once a year - choose your stems in return for a modest sum, with proceeds going to the Carterton Plunket and St John Ambulance.

The Carterton Daffodil Carnival will be held on Sunday September 14, 2008.

The Big Wai Art Sale is held in the Carterton Exhibition Centre on Holloway Street, and finishes 4pm on Carnival Day.