Home paradise makes trail debut
Judith and Warren Macneil’s Te Puke garden is a BOP Garden & Art Festival newcomer.
There’s plenty of garden love to be found at their Cooney Place property, aptly named Jude’s Happy Place, and they’re looking forward to sharing it with festival trail-goers.
The Macneils’ garden spans a traditional half-acre site where there is plenty to please festivalgoers.
Roses, wisterias and grapes drape over pergolas; potager, herb and border gardens are lush; veges and fruit trees thrive; a boardwalk provides access to further plantings; and the rear courtyard features a large, open fire.
The Macneils’ property is one of eight Te Puke gardens on the festival trail, and Te Puke talent will extend to the art scene too. Tickets for the November 15-18 festival trail can be bought via www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz or Ticketek, and at Te Puke Florist.
Festival director Marc Anderson says 71 gardens throughout the Western Bay and the work of 100 artists are set to wow those taking to the festival trails. There will be rambling rural gardens, small plots (and plenty in between), festival favourites, newcomers . . . a whole mix of delights.
Further creativity, under a Bloom in the Bay banner, will be on offer at the festival hub at Tauranga’s Historic Village.
The site will be a place where everyone — including families with young children — can enjoy keynote speakers, exhibitions, entertainment (including live music), tasty food and beverages, workshops, displays and concept gardens. It will be open for all ages and run on the festival days from 9am until 9.30pm.
“Not everyone opts to go on the garden and art trail and this is a nice way of still having a slice of the festival action. Of course, activities have been timed to also suit those who have been on the trail during the day,” Marc says.
■ For more information visit www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz. Bayleys Real Estate is the festival’s platinum sponsor and principal event partner.