Levin gardeners get a special visitor
After months of planning and a delay by Covid lockdown last year, our keen gardeners of Levin and the surrounding region were finally out in force last Wednesday evening to hear visiting guest speaker Jo McCarroll, editor of magazine.
As editor for more than 15 years, Jo McCarroll was well placed to give an insight into her role as the public face of NZ’s most popular garden publication, which now has an average circulation of 36,000, a far cry from the original 3000 copies. In her role she is contacted by many readers and took this opportunity to regale the audience with some of the more colourful stories she has encountered. It was clear her work requires a wide network of contacts to help her answer readers’ questions.
We were taken on a history tour of the magazine, starting with the first edition in 1944. The original editors, the Matthews family, had to petition Parliament (as paper was rationed) to publish a nononsense, simply printed leaflet with no pictures, a guide to growing plants in NZ conditions. This was welcomed by gardeners of the day who, until that time, had to guess planting methods and times to plant by using publications from the other side of the world with opposite seasons.
If you just happen to have a firstedition copy hiding away in your attic, Jo would love to hear from you. It originally cost a shilling.
On our journey we learnt how gardens have changed over the years according to fads and fashions of the time, often mirroring what was happening in other parts of the world.
These ranged from old-fashioned border floral beds using imported plants, the replacement of flowers with shrubs, the rising popularity of native plants (having earlier discarded them), then the resurgence of more classic cottage gardens.
Jo McCarroll stated that growing our own food has always been a major impetus for gardeners, particularly in her own garden.
Prior to Jo McCarroll’s visit last week, the editorial team had visited some local gardens, four of which have been showcased this year in the magazine. These garden owners were available to speak to the audience as they arrived and mingled.
The evening was well supported by local businesses, craft and plant stallholders who generously donated their time, as well as items to the raffles.
Horowhenua Floral Art group provided beautiful floral decorations, and a wonderful supper rounded out the evening’s entertainment, which was well enjoyed by the crowd of 170 or so. Very grateful thanks go to our sponsor Woodland Gardens and to all those who assisted in any way.