Expanded Waihi garden ramble aimed at helping local organisations

Karen Gaffney's garden on Rifle Range Rd is approximately 0.8ha of trees, shrubbery and landscaping. It features a glasshouse, a succulent garden and a large rock water feature.

Waihi Lions members hope for more garden enthusiasts than usual at this year's garden ramble.

''We have just gone through Covid and we were thinking it would be nice to just relax and roam around gardens for a few days,'' says committee chairwoman Karen Gaffney.

It's a great opportunity for new people to Waihi to check out gardens in the area as well, she says, and people can see what plants are able to be grown.

There are 17 gardens in total, with eight new gardens - a jump in numbers from previous years.

The triennial ramble is always well supported and a good money-earner for charities, Karen says. The last ramble raised $6000, which went towards upgrading Waihi's rocket park.

Proceeds from this year's event will go to Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Hetherington House.

Karen says this year's ramblers can expect a big variety of gardens, from small to large, country and town, easy-care and not-so-easy-care. The gardens are in Waihi and Waikino.

Some properties will feature plant stalls, raffles, sausage sizzle, Devonshire tea or artwork for sale.

The local Lions took the event over from Rotary and have run the ramble for more than a decade.

■ Waihi Lions Garden Ramble is on November 14-15. Tickets are $20 available from Mitre 10 Waihi, Beach Road Garden Centre, Waihi Beach Home and Hardware and Country Dog Garden Centre in Paeroa.