Category Archives: Tikorangi notes

The last day of Festival 2012


Tomorrow marks the final day of the Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular for this year. While our garden remains open, the special flavour of Festival ends tomorrow. This means that after that, Mark and I will not be standing in attendance at the entrance all day, meeting and greeting and answering questions. Nor will there be tea and coffee available at all times. And plant sales end for another year.

This morning dawned grey and quickly deteriorated to the worst possible conditions – windy, cold and with torrential rain. Frankly, we were astonished that over 60 determined souls braved the weather to turn up and visit the garden in the morning. But by lunch, in typical Taranaki style, the sun came out, the rain stopped and all the flower and the garden is looking its smartest.

We are open from 8.30am until 5.00pm daily. Admission to the garden during Festival is $12.00 or 3 x Festival tickets. Garden entry includes tea and coffee at this time. We are open from 8.30am with final garden entries at 5.00pm each day. Plant sales end tomorrow.

589 Otaraoa Road, RD 43, Waitara 4383, New Zealand
Email: jury@jury.co.nz | Tel & Fax: +64 6 754 6671

Not a common buttercup - Ranunculus cortusifolius from the Canary Islands

Not a common buttercup – Ranunculus cortusifolius from the Canary Islands

Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular update

Iris sibirica and Jovellana punctata

Iris sibirica and Jovellana punctata

Blue cammasia

Blue cammasia

There are a mere three days to run for this year’s garden festival – the Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular. The pattern here has been very busy mornings and much quieter afternoons. Tomorrow is the last of our guided walks at 11am – the popularity of these has become a standing joke here. The agreement is that if there are under 10 people, Mark will lead them, over 10 and it is mine. So far, this year and last, they have all been mine. Mark is now threatening to pressgang unwilling participants should any look to fall short of the magic 10. It was closer to SIXTY on Tuesday. That was a minor challenge.

We are open from 8.30am until 5.00pm daily. Admission to the garden during Festival is $12.00 or 3 x Festival tickets. Garden entry includes tea and coffee at this time. We are open from 8.30am to 5.00pm each day. Plant sales continue until Sunday only.

589 Otaraoa Road, RD 43, Waitara 4383, New Zealand
Email: jury@jury.co.nz | Tel & Fax: +64 6 754 6671

Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular – day 4

A wet Sunday was a tad discouraging but we have to accept that a spring time event may well have a rainy day – and be grateful if it is only one day. Today dawned fine again and a pleasant sunny day made for a much pleasanter garden visiting experience. We started with a whoosh and a bang with the first coach arriving before we even opened. They had not long been welcomed and set on their path around the garden when the second coach arrived. And the third. The challenge for us is always parking coaches because we have to get them off the road.

The weather forecast is good so we hope for a busy week. We are open from 8.30am until 5.00pm daily. Admission to the garden during Festival is $12.00 or 3 x Festival tickets. Garden entry includes tea and coffee at this time. We are open from 8.30am to 5.00pm each day. Plant sales continue until Sunday, the final day of our festival.

589 Otaraoa Road, RD 43, Waitara 4383, New Zealand
Email: jury@jury.co.nz | Tel & Fax: +64 6 754 6671

Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular- day 2


Day 2 of our annual festival has passed. For us the highlight was having Guitarra playing in the garden – a wonderful blend of classical guitar with Spanish and South American influences. The gentle melodies wafting through the upper garden was a delight for garden visitors. At the time we had the Galston Garden Group from Australia visiting. I suspect there were a few ring-ins with them – can’t think that the Galston group has a catchment from Sydney to Perth.

Our Lloyd, the keeper of the carpark and manager of parking at peak times, kept the coach driver entertained.

The dogs had a busy day. Spike was an attentive participant in the conversation of one group of visitors.

Zephyr was more interested in joining another, well organised group for their luncheon in the carpark.

If you are in the area, admission to the garden during Festival is $12.00 or 3 x Festival tickets. Garden entry includes tea and coffee at this time. We are open from 8.30am to 5.00pm each day.

589 Otaraoa Road, RD 43, Waitara 4383, New Zealand
Email: jury@jury.co.nz | Tel & Fax: +64 6 754 6671

Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular

blooms

It’s festival time – the 25th anniversary of what is now known as the Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular (formerly the Taranaki Rhododendron and Garden Festival or variants on the same name). This is the single most important time on our garden visitor calendar. Please join us. The garden is looking its very best. Tomorrow (Saturday) we have Guitarra playing in the garden at 1.00pm. Don’t miss the beautiful blend of Spanish classical guitar with strong South American influences.

Tikorangi garden visitors October 2012

Admission to the garden during Festival is $12.00 or 3 x Festival tickets. Garden entry includes tea and coffee at this time. We are open from 8.30am to 5.00pm each day.

589 Otaraoa Road, RD 43, Waitara 4383, New Zealand
Email: jury@jury.co.nz | Tel & Fax: +64 6 754 6671