Day 1 Taranaki Garden Spectacular : Aotearoa – Land of the Long White Cloud

I’m beginning to see what they mean,  though this year there seems to have been a far greater abundance of long white clouds;  with plenty of shades of grey mixed in as well.   Another damp grey start to the day, not raining at the moment but the weather forecaster cheerfully informs us that we’ll have clear patches this morning followed by showers this afternoon, possibly thunder.   But hey…look on the bright side…rain..plants love it.

We’re starting our tour in Waitara,  about 20 minutes north of the city centre.   The wonderful thing about garden festivals is the enormous variety of wares spread out before you, much like the plant world itself I guess.    But no matter how great the individual differences between the gardens one thing remains constant…the joy and enthusiasm of the gardeners themselves.

Waiongana Gardens is a magnificent four hectare garden on the banks of the Waiongana River.  Drawing on the structured formality of traditional European garden design, enlightened by a casual and sometimes quirky down-under individuality, this garden is magnificent not simply because of it’s wonderful variety but also because it is largely the work of two people.    Every gardener knows that a garden is a labour of love and at Waiongana Diana and John must have found truck-loads of the stuff….I felt exhausted just contemplating the pruning required.

Not far away you’ll find a delightful contrast with Vance and Kathryn’s Magnolia Grove.   No formal European structure here.    A meandering, absorbing wander through an amazing array of magnolias, a bee garden and, all of a sudden, out into a desert garden with powerful, imposing structures of cacti and succulents…strangely at home in the cold drifting drizzle.   Hard to believe that a mere twelve years ago this was just another paddock on the farm; grass and cow-pats.    Now the trees soar above your head and the happy hum of the bees drowns out that of the motorway not too far from the gate.   Once again a wonderful tribute to the hard work of its creators.

For more details on this event go to Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular