An amazing trip to the Taranaki Garden Festival - By John Lovell

It was an early start for an excited group of 46 Kensington Park residents, departing in a luxury coach for New Plymouth, on November 2nd, to visit the gardens celebrating the Taranaki Garden Festival.

Wow! What an amazing experience this was. The planning and organisation were flawless, with the long journey segmented into two-hour sections so that we arrived at our first garden at 3.30pm in good shape.

Waiongana Gardens is a 4ha garden, with the river on its boundary, a number of interesting vistas and easy walkways, hand-built log walls and wonderful peonies in full bloom. A great introduction to the festival.

The next morning, an early start enabled us to visit four more beautiful properties.

Puketarata Gardens, situated upon a hilltop site, has spectacular views and interesting sculptures set amongst herbaceous plantings. The home is positioned to capture the beautiful gardens and view.

Sullivan Garden, our next stop began as an asparagus plot 20 years ago and is now a spectacular garden with over 150 rhododendrons and roses which were ablaze with colour. Sweeping lawns, clipped hedges and garden art complete the picture.

Tairoa Lodge combines history and beauty, set within graceful grounds and here we enjoyed a relaxing lunch. Gravetye, the final visit is 10 acres of sheer beauty - a formal garden celebrating mass green plantings in a very structured way all radiating from the house.

Wednesday - another four gardens.

Magnolia Grove is a hidden sanctuary full of succulents, magnolia and a variety of unusual plants and trees.

Winlea Acre is another award winning open-style garden with plantings either side of the huge lawn in the centre. Here we enjoyed a complimentary coffee overlooking this vista ... bliss.

After a group photo shoot at the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge, it was off to Pukeiti for lunch. This 360-ha property has been built up over the last 70 years. Managed by the Regional Council, this family-oriented park is spectacular, with some of the biggest rhododendrons to view. The colours were spectacular. This was a great way to finish the day.

The group dinner on Wednesday evening, at the hotel, was enjoyed by all - an opportunity to compare notes, catch up with friends and have a few laughs. Organised by Lyn Hodgkiss, a fellow resident, and driven so well by our coach driver, Fran Silke, we were so spoilt. Both deserve the highest praise for a “job well done”. They were terrific Thank-you SO MUCH.

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