Garden safaris here and there

SUPER SIZE: A garden of giant fruit, made by artist Helen Jean, will be one of the more unusual sights on this weekend's Kerikeri Garden Safari. PICTURE/SUPPLIED

The busy season is about to begin for Far North garden lovers, with the Kerikeri Garden Safari this weekend and Kaitaia's over November 7-8.

Water is the theme for the Kerikeri safari, with many of the 17 gardens featuring ponds, inlet views, fountains and even an indoor water garden, ranging from small urban plots to sprawling coastal estates, all within a 15-minute drive of the town centre.

Refreshments will be available at two pop-up cafes, one operated by Hospice Mid Northland at Oakridge Villas (garden 5) and the other by the Northland Tuis Marching Team (garden 14). Tickets ($25) are available from gardensafari.co.nz, and at Kerikeri New World, Shoestyles (Kerikeri and Paihia), Kwan's Garden Creations and Unichem Kerikeri Pharmacy.

The Kaitaia safari, which will once again raise funds for Riding for the Disabled, will focus on properties south of Kaitaia, as far as Victoria Valley and Takahue. Fourteen gardens will be on the itinerary, including Anne and Ian Walker's home just outside Kaitaia (on State Highway 1), featuring several acres of garden (that was completely re-established in 2008) around the 100-year-old homestead.

Sue and Danny O'Brien's Victoria Valley property (The Glen) has been developed to attract native birds, and includes a small dam planted with water lilies and surrounded by ferns, while the bromeliads will also be of interest to many.

Yvonne and Ron Sant's contribution includes a small nuttery (almond, macadamia and hazel nuts), along with a sub-tropical, Mediterranean and temperate food forest.

Marie Matthews and Jim Burrough will once again welcome visitors to their four-acre garden on Te Rore Road, while Karen and Clive Meyers' garden is described as an eclectic collection of plants, classic and modern, along with Karen's hypertufa artworks.

Maxine and Pete Wild have also hosted safari-goers before, albeit four years ago when their Takahue Road garden was in its early stages of development. Leonardo the turtle will add to the welcome there.

All the gardens will be open from 9am to 5.30pm both days, and the programme lists those who will have plants for sale and special items of interest. Tickets ($20) are available at Blomfield's Garden Centre (Aurere), the i-Site at Te Ahu, CBEC, Wrightson's and McCarthny Mitre 10 in Kaitaia.

For those without transport a bus will leave from behind Te Ahu in Kaitaia at 9am on the Saturday, $10 per passenger. A shuttle bus will be provided from the east coast if required.

Phone or text Irene Knowler on (0210) 253-8213 to book a seat.