SHOW PREVIEW
It's on again! The ninth annual Hunter's Garden Marlborough will be held on 8th, 9th and 10th November. Described as our premier gardening event, this South Island celebration of New Zealand's favourite pastime is a key event in the gardening calendar.
Festival organisers advise that planning for 2002 is nearing completion and the promise already is one of pure indulgence. The programme again features five, very different, tours of the province's best private gardens and, if previous years are anything to go by, the standard will surprise and amaze. Hunter's Garden Marlborough is renowned for its garden tours - no driving, no map reading, and no aggravation - just a relaxing day improved by glorious food and friendly people.
Tantilising Choices
Leading a fine list of guest presenters for November must surely be world-acclaimed Englishman Roger Phillips. Roger will speak on what must be Zealand's favourite flower - old roses. Roger has 21 books to his credit and has won numerous awards for photography and book design. He has written and presented two major television series: BBC's The Quest for the Rose and Channel 4's The 3000 Mile Garden. Roger will breakaway from the Adelaide Rose Festival for this appearance at Hunter's Garden Marlborough.
New York's florist to the stars, J. Barry Ferguson is another welcome name on the garden festival's menu for 2002. Barry promises 'a floral cabaret' with a theme celebrating New Zealand's current hold on the America's Cup. Not known for his artistic inhibition, Barry's audience will be treated to as much drama, lighting, and pure theatrics the senses can stand.
Kiwi bon vivant Annabel Langbein also shares top billing with her culinary demonstration, Savour the Mediterranean.
Other guest speakers, covering a diverse and interesting range of topics, will appeal to the thousands who attend this popular festival. Names like Neil Ross, chief gardener at Auckland's Ayrlies, and Michael McCoy, whose Melbourne garden has astounded the Australian gardening fraternity, will be sure to draw lots of interest.
Festival participants look forward to the fete on the Sunday. An incomparable chance to buy plants, garden goodies and more. Seymour Square fills with stallholders. Every imaginable gardening accessory, tool and furniture are on sale. Few emerge from the fete empty handed.
The Orginal Garden Festival
Hunter's Garden Marlborough is the original New Zealand garden festival, and has a sort of je ne sais quoi that imitators endeavour to emulate.
The quality presentation of this event has been passionately sustained and, in the words of committee president, Tim Crawford, "It's no accident - we work hard and purposefully to achieve this aura of casualness."
Plan to Go
Every enthusiastic gardener, beginner or expert, should go at least once (more is better here). In fact, you owe it to yourself to go.
For old-fashioned good time, inspired ideas and sound, practical advice, you should book for Hunter's Garden Marlborough. You'll never regret it.
Contact the Festival organisers to order your copy of the 2002 programme. Popular tours and events sell out quickly. Tickets go on sale early August.
We will see you there!
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Hunter's Garden Marlborough brings you gardens that amaze -
From the romantic...
To the classic...
And contemporary
Marlborough, famous for roses
Inspiration at every turn
Gardens, plants and hosts that delight
The Fete in Seymour Square
Hunter's Garden Marlborough Reviewed
 Reviews and photographs of Hunter's Garden Marlborough 2000 and 2001 | | |
