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Garden Speaker Series

Hedges & Edges
Alternative Options & Problem Solving

With Ann and Vince

Ann and Vince, owners of Big Jims Garden Centre are constantly asked for ideas and alternatives for hedging. Currently the blight affecting Buxus Sempervirens is causing many to look for alternatives.

In their garden they have planted several hedges all serving different purposes from shelter to decorative. Join Ann and Vince in their garden and be inspired to try some different ideas.

DATE/TIME	Fri 26 Oct, 1.30pm
VENUE	Ann & Vince’s Garden, 367 Corbett Rd, New Plymouth
ADMISSION	Free event, usual garden fee applies ($4)

Creating Hanging Baskets

A creative workshop with Jenny Oakley

Jenny spent the English spring of 2000 touring English Garden Centres demonstrating ‘Hanging Baskets and Container Gardening’ with Ann Nicholas- previously part of the ‘Two Ann’s team’.

Jenny has a Bachelor of Horticulture in Amenity Horticulture from Massey. She managed Hollard’s Garden while it was under the QE2 National Trust umbrella and has accomplished a good deal of commercial garden design and maintenance over many years.

She has been involved in beautification projects locally in Manaia and assisted the beautification team at Ellerslie in the early years. Jenny and Guy’s garden became a Garden of National Significance in 2005.

Jenny will inspire you with her workshop and you’ll gain plenty of helpful tips to try at home.

DATE/TIME	Sat 27 Oct & Sat 3 Nov, 2pm
VENUE	Oakley Garden, 79 Lower Normanby Rd, Manaia
ADMISSION	Free event, usual garden fee applies ($4)

Cliva - The Perfect Shade Plant
With Tony Barnes

Local gardener, nurseryman, and plantsman Tony Barnes is smitten by the clivia. He has collected all six species and seen them growing in their natural habitat in South Africa. Tony has written articles about them for several gardening magazines, spoken about them at an International Clivia Conference in South Africa, and also to the Association of Clivia Growers in Chanchun, China.

Clivia really are aristocrats of the gardening world. They have it all – glossy broad evergreen leaves, shade tolerance, drought tolerance, pest and disease resistance and long lasting flowers at a time when not much else is flowering. They are very long lived and a delightful range of colours from creamy yellow through apricot pastel and peach shades, to scarlet orange red.

Learn about the different species and new hybrids, how to grow and propagate your own, hybridise them and other interesting aspects of their culture and history. Opportunity to buy seeds and plants that are never offered in garden centres.

DATE/TIME	Mon 29 Oct, 2pm
VENUE	Ngamamaku, 1521 Surf Highway, Oakura
ADMISSION	Free event, usual garden fee applies ($8)

Container Gardening Inside and Out

A workshop with Donna Christiansen and Judi Lee

Join Donna and Judi who are qualified horticulturalists from the Fernery and Display Houses at Pukekura Park and are experts in this field; to learn some container gardening tips for the creation and care of container plants.

The Display Houses contain a variety of thousands of potted plants that are skilfully grown, displayed and maintained within the glass house complex. They will demonstrate the growing, general maintenance and control of pests and diseases.

DATE/TIME	Tues 30 Oct, 11am – 12noon
VENUE	Fernery and Display Houses, Pukekura Park
BOOKING	Festival Office, Cnr Brougham & Powderham Sts, New Plymouth, 06 759 8412 Bookings essential. Limited numbers
ADMISSION	Free event

Attrecting Birds into your Garden

With Glyn Church

Glyn Church has loved birds all his life and while he’s spent a lifetime with plants, the birds have always been in the picture.

Now you have a chance to hear Glyn speak about the right plants to attract birds, both native and exotic into to your garden.

DATE/TIME	Wed 31 Oct, 2pm
VENUE	Church Gardens, 1403 Surf Highway, Oakura
ADMISSION	Free event, usual garden fee applies ($8)

Wildflowers, Bees and their Beneficial Friends

With Geoff Brunsden

Geoff Brunsden is recognised as New Zealand’s leading exotic wildflower expert. For over 25 years Geoff and his wife Liz have worked to promote the concept of landscaping with wildflowers.

They are deeply involved with the National Beekeepers Association in the use of wildflowers to help inhibit the decline of the honey bee and their beneficial friends. Bees are a critical link in pollinating flowers including food crops. Globally they are in an alarming decline. Learn from national exotic wildflower expert how you can help rescue this situation.

Achievements include beautification of the Auckland motorway network and a published series book on ‘Wildflowers of New Zealand’.

EVENT 1
DATE/TIME	Thurs 1 Nov, 2pm
VENUE	Armstrong Garden, 87 Princess St, Waitara
ADMISSION	Free event, usual garden fee applies ($4)
EVENT 2
DATE/TIME	Fri 2 Nov, 11am
VENUE	Campbell Garden, 692 Patiki Rd, Opunake
ADMISSION	Free event, usual garden fee applies ($4)