Oruru gardeners back in action

A new year has begun for the O¯ ruru Garden Club, Pat Lendich hosting the first meeting of 2019 at her home in Mangonui.

President Margaret Foster welcomed everyone back, with a special welcome for new member Lynne McDonald, and invited them to share what they had done for their Christmas celebrations, many having enjoyed the company of family and friends, and delicious food.

The decorative competition, a celebration of Valentine’s Day, gave members the chance to display some impressive flair with red flowers, chocolates and cards.

Birthday girl Tui Gardiner was delighted to receive her belated gift, a hot water bottle and cover, and was perhaps hoping for a sudden cold snap, while auctioneer Yvonne Anderson and little elf Pat ‘peppered’ members to bid for the vegetables, plants, pickles and jams that were available at $2 or more.

Tui won the competition, a variety of plant questions, and was thrilled with her prize, a red shopping bag with white polka dots on the handles and a matching purse for her loose change, saying she needed a new bag.

She also won the raffle, a container of Thrive plant food.

Meanwhile, members were reminded by Margaret of two upcoming events — the Mangonui Garden Club’s flower show on Saturday, March 23, March and Doubtless Bay Retire and Live Group’s hosting of Jan Vartan, who will speak on the proposed retirement village at Cooper’s Beach.

Business over and done with, everyone enjoyed afternoon tea, featuring Rosalie Hills’ ginger and chocolate cake, reportedly a major hit, prompting numerous requests for the recipe.

Lyn Hill’s orange marshmallow slice coated in coconut was also very popular.

The lucky mug belonged to Yvonne, who was very pleased with her shopping bag, and May Cross once again had the lucky cup, collecting a container of Thrive.

Lou Broadhead will host the March meeting at her home in Mangonui, with vice-president Pat Lendich presiding.

The decorative competition will be miniature green plants in a terrarium, roll call’s theme being bulbs for planting in the spring.