The wonders of nature and art combine in this year’s Raglan Horticultural Society’s biennial garden ramble on Saturday, November 21 from 10am-4pm.
Open to the public, the society president Geoff Pownall says it’s a perfect opportunity to get more than a peak over the garden wall of some of the top garden’s in Whaingaroa.
“This year we have 10 gardens on display and seven of those will have local artists exhibiting their work.”
Each garden has its own distinct theme; from rocks and more rocks at Margaret Hayes rockery in Te Mata, a fernery and forest at Colleen and Tony Moore’s patch on Puriri St, to a food forest dream at Delwyn and Brian Wilson’s garden on Norrie and a children’s quiz at Bruce and Sharon Coull’s hillside terraces on Te Hutewai.
“There’s’ something for everyone, with gardeners sharing their knowledge as well as sharing their beautiful gardens,” Geoff says.
With many old favourites back and some new ones in the mix, the gardeners are collecting a koha, which they will donate to a charity of their choice.
Geoff and wife Lis’s are having a plant sale and offering afternoon teas from 1.30pm at their cottage garden on Nihinihi.
Avid gardeners, the pair came to Raglan in 2013 and quickly got involved in the horticultural society; it was around this time the society’s garden rambles were springing back to life.
“The Garden Ramble shows off such a variety of gardens, from large open areas to hidden secret spots full of colour,” Geoff says.
As guardians of Raglan’s Crop Swap they also put their green-fingers to good use in the vegetable garden, which they share at the swap on the first and third Sunday of the month.
Nearly 120 years old, the Raglan Horticultural Society has a long history of garden rambling, flower and vegetable competitions and various displays.
Geoff says new members are welcome to join them on the third Tuesday of the month at 1pm at the Stewart St Church Hall, where there is guest speakers and a sharing of what’s vibing in the garden.
Pick up your Garden Ramble guide at the Raglan Library, I-site, Raglan Community House, local shops and on the Raglan Horticultural Society facebook page.
Janine Jackson
The list of gardens and artists:
Toni Kingstone at Rocks and Rocks, 118 Te Papatapu Rd, Te Mata
Loesje de Bree at Parkland and Ponds, 30 Bridal Creek Rd, off Okete Rd
Ro Fawcett at Watersedge, 100E Greenslade Rd
Marise Rarere at Garden and Art, 153 Hills Rd
Follow the Winding Path, 13 Primrose St
Hillside Terraces, 335D Te Hutewai Rd
Dyana Wells at Fernery and Food Forest, 3 Puriri St
Julie Macdonald at Cottage Garden, 28 Nihinihi Ave – afternoon tea and plant sales
Richard Gemmell at Food Forest Dream, 27 Norrie Ave – open 10-1.30pm
Combining Art and Gardening into Rainbow Creations, 4 Uenuku Ave
