MORE than a thousand people had a bloomin' good time at the 40th Annual Illawarra Spring Rose Show last weekend.

Organised by the Illawarra Regional Rose Society, the event was one of the longest running rose shows in NSW, and featured rose and garden displays.

The show took place in the Jamberoo School of Arts.

It also featured exhibits of garden wares and ornaments.

Show manager and judge, Colin Hollis, was pleased with the reception to this year's event, which attracted more than 1000 people throughout the two days.

"It was very hot, but what was good was there was so much on the South Coast over the weekend, but we maintained our numbers.

"We had approximately the same numbers as last year.

"It's become a bit of a feature on the South Coast.

"We may be looking at a bigger venue … We like to think it has become a feature of the Kiama municipality."

The show was opened by US rose expert Lynn Hunt, a horticultural judge.

"She was quite impressed with it; she thought the blooms were excellent," Mr Hollis said.

■ More great pics at kiamaindependent.com.au.