If you are an Aucklander and have missed the Ellerslie Flower Show since it went to Christchurch, you'll be pleased to learn that Auckland is to have a replacement this year.
The New Zealand Garden Expo, scheduled for April 8-10 at Ellerslie, has been designed to meet the needs of novice
and experienced gardeners who like the hands-on approach.
There will be live demonstrations and gardening education sessions to provide practical solutions to problems.
If, for example, you have a plant with a strange disease you can take a leaf to the Ask It Solve It Stage for a solution.
You can learn how to pot, grow organically, design a garden for a balcony, or cook using seasonal produce.
And for those who prefer to look rather than do, there will be feature gardens and floral displays.
Meanwhile, organisers of the Ellerslie Flower Show in Christchurch are putting the finishing touches to their plans for the event, which is from March 9-13.
It will feature 100 horticultural exhibits, including 42 gardens - the most that have been on display since the show was moved to Christchurch in 2009.
