This past weekend the Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular kicked off, running through November 8th.
Struan Farm is right on the flight path of those travellers heading to New Plymouth from the north. John got my "Gardeners Welcome" sign up at our front entrance to give them a smile:
This annual event used to be called The Rhododendron Festival, although in recent years an attempt has been made to de-emphasise rhodos and widen the tent. (There's a thought in certain circles that "real" gardeners are a dying breed, but let's hope that's not the case!) Regardless, the Taranaki region was and still is known for its outstanding rhododendron gardens, including Pukeiti Gardens.
John's parents obtained virtually all of the rhodos in the gardens at Struan Farm from Duncan & Davies and other Taranaki specialist nurseries "in the day." And looking around our gardens right now I can see why a rhododendron festival at this time of the year makes sense.
They are spectacular, really.
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