Mangawhai Garden Club - Kerikeri gardens offer surprises

 

 

Poppy Fuller’s Bromeliad Nursery was our first stop. Poppy and her business partner David told us of her hobby which has now become the largest bromeliad nursery in the country. It’s a veritable bromeliad supermarket with plants of every size and type laid out under plastic houses, including some very impressive pineapples. Even those of our members who weren’t fond of brom’s had to admit there were some spectacular plants. Flower spikes a metre high graced some of the larger varieties. 

After morning tea in Poppy’s garden we selected our purchases (not an easy task with so many choices) and headed off to Plantzone. This nursery specializes in growing vireyas as well as other interesting ornamentals. With a bus load of plant crazy gardeners the storage on the bus was filling fast as we headed off to our lunch stop. 

Pat Frazer’s sub-tropical garden overlooks the Kerikeri Inlet. From the road the garden slopes steeply up to the house and has been cleverly terraced and planted so that you can wander along pathways among the palms rather than tackle the steep driveway. Rocks are a feature as they are in many gardens in the area. After enjoying our lunch and Pat’s hospitality we left the beautiful water views to walk down to Howard Plank’s eclectic garden. 

Howard, a retired florist, has used his many years experience to create an Aladdin’s cave of interesting plantings under mature trees. Many of the plants are in pots so that they can be rearranged at short notice. To create height and interest, plants are raised in layers and grouped much closer than most gardeners would put them. The overall effect is of a sub-tropical jungle. Bromeliads also feature in Howard’s garden, attached to tree trunks, driftwood or as beautiful statements on their own. Everyday objects that most would discard are artfully displayed hanging from trees. Every nook and cranny holds a new surprise. 

Our last garden was situated in an old quarry where several impressive homes share ponds and meandering paths through mature trees and palms. Christine Sole’s garden is spectacular with areas of huge rocks and a clever mix of subtropical and cottage plants. Large vireyas of every colour as well as begonias, brugmansias and even giant zinnias give this garden a unique look.  

Thank you to all our hosts for generously opening their gardens and sharing some great ideas. 

- Viv Martens.
 

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PLANT STOP: Local nurseries were also part of the garden club itinerary in Kerikeri.