By Dylan Thorne
When Ruth Day told her husband Peter their garden would be on display during Tauranga's Garden and Artfest he took a look at his backyard and laughed.
When she broke the news three months ago, the garden of their River Oaks home was a bare paddock.
Mrs Day, a mosaic
artist, had exhibited her work during the art festival two years ago and had been asked to exhibit again. The organisers also happened to mention they they needed more gardens.
"I just just took a deep breath and laughed," Mr Day said.
The huge event, which began on Monday, showcases the work of more than 100 garden and art enthusiasts around the Western Bay of Plenty.
Stretching from Katikati through Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke, the festival showcases everything from neat urban gardens to rambling country estates.
The couple have since transformed their property into a fledgling sub-tropical oasis - working 13-hour days to achieve the desired result.
The hard landscaping, such as pathways, tennis court and pool area, had already been done but the couple called in Aucklander Tony Murrell to come up with a planting plan.
"It was always our plan to do it but it was a matter of getting around to it.
"It's been good because it's made us get everything done," Mr Day said.
The result of their labour is a structured semi-tropical garden with a "resort feel", he said.
Mrs Day said the decision to enter the garden had given them a finite term to get the work done.
"We wouldn't have got a quarter of the work done if we hadn't done this," she said.
