This is it, folks. The die has been cast, the decision made. This is our last festival. I am referring to the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival that starts in under three weeks – on Friday 28 October. This is likely to be your last chance to visit our garden.
Much and all as we love meeting you and seeing you enjoy our garden, we would rather go out on a high note than fade away. The garden is looking its very best – or it will be in another couple of weeks. This festival looks as though it will be a cracker event and that seems a good time for us to say farewell before we close the gates to visitors.
If you are one of the people who say, “I have been meaning to come for ages,” this is your last opportunity. We won’t stop gardening or sell up but we will be closed to the public from November 7 and we won’t be opening next year.
We are particularly keen that our music in the garden event on Sunday 30 October be a success. We can’t control the weather (and the music from La Mer is weather dependent) but we have everything else in hand. La Mer is a four-piece group playing a mix of gypsy swing and French chanson which blends delightfully with a garden setting.
Not only is Rose from the Garden Cake Kitchen selling her dreamy cakes by the slice, but there is more.
Becky from Humble Grazing is offering pre-ordered platters for those of a more savoury persuasion. Becky can be contacted through her Facebook page, her website under the name of Humble Grazing or Instagram. If the weather forces a cancellation of the music and you have pre-ordered a platter, you can pick it up from here and take it back to your accommodation to consume. You are welcome to bring a bottle of wine to accompany your platter – or indeed bring your own picnic.
But we will also have the Etta Coffee Van on site selling both hot and cold drinks. These include iced coffee and chocolate (the day may even be hot!), smoothies and a range of organic teas, if coffee is not your favoured afternoon drink.
Seating is limited so maybe add a picnic blanket or folding chairs if you want to be seated. La Mer will be playing from 2.00pm onwards. Please come. There is no additional charge for the event – just the garden entry fee of $10. You are free to sit and enjoy the music or to wander the garden at your leisure. For those of us who are still Covid-anxious, we have plenty of space and being able to physically distance is not an issue.
Auckland botanical artist, Jennifer Duval-Smith is our artist in residence. Three of her four nature journaling workshops are already fully booked and there are just a few places left on her Tuesday 1 Nov workshop centred on the grandeur and glory of rhododendrons.
If you are interested in my garden tours on Friday 28 Oct, Tuesday 1 and Thursday 3 Nov, no bookings are needed. Just be here at 11am and we will be starting from the main lawn. These tours last between about 75 to 90 minutes but you don’t have to stay the whole distance. That said, Mark is in awe at my ability to enter the garden with a group and return later with pretty much the same number as I started.
And it will all end on November 6 when we close our gates (metaphorically speaking).
Farewell, poroporoaki, sayonara, adieu,
Abbie and Mark.
Tikorangi The Jury Garden 
My Jane and I visited your garden last year and it was a real highlight – many special treasures and points of difference. And I still have several of the shrubs I bought when you had the mail order business so many years ago.
Going out on a high note while you’re on top of your game is so right – well done and thanks to you and Mark for everything
Thanks Peter. I remember you ordering plants all those years ago. And we really don’t want to be the Tim Shadbolt of the gardening world. Better to know when the time is right.
Well, I’m really sorry not to have had the chance to visit your wonderful garden (from the UK)! I won’t make it there before 7 November. I hope your festival is a fantastic success and that the sun shines for you and your guests. Thanks for all the posts and enjoy your “retirement”.
Thank you. We are unlikely to garden less, just differently.
I’m afraid we won’t be able to visit this year Abbie, but at least we’ve been lucky enough to have visited your garden 3 times over the years. We wish you well for your last festival: I hope the weather is kind this year and that there will be no wheel ruts in the parking areas or cars stuck on tree stumps to deal with! Your garden and blog have been an inspiration to us over the years, thank you.
Thanks Tim. It has been lovely to see you here.
How I wish I could be there! Best wishes for, and I’m sure it will be, a very successful event.
Very sorry never to have been able to visit your garden. Your posts make it seem so attractive. Best wishes for your retirement, hope you keep up this blog.
Thans. My blog may become a little more erratic but I am unlikely to stop writing.
All ready for the last Hurrah – with not a weed in your pebble pathways!! I would love to see how your New Perennialist garden is looking – the one you call your summer garden?
We are vigilant weeders in the cultivated gardens, but not the meadow or wild garden. Do you think you will get back up this way any time?
Looks fabulous Abbie.
Good luck at your closing event!
All best wishes in the coming future.
New career change here as well.
Closed the nursery. Opened consulting, design, garden coaching, plant brokering business.
(Working on new website now: ‘Gardener.Extraordinaire’ ).
Thank you Abbey and Family for sharing your garden with us all these years. They do include my parents before me. You’ve given us so much pleasure will be there for your last hurrah. God bless always from Pauline and Tony Zieltjes 614 Kelly Road.
Thank you very much.
Dear Mark & Abbie, Sad news indeed! However, all good things must come to an end. It is so so good that you have shared your garden and passion with so many over the years. Your efforts and generosity has brought Happiness to many people from all corners of the world!
I hope to see you both in the not too distant future :).
Best wishes