Rotorua's great soil produces lovely rhododendrons _ to see the proof, visit the five local gardens taking part in this year's Rhododendron Festival.
This year will be the second year of the festival, which is held on alternating years so as not to clash with the Festival of Gardens.
To makesure all the gardens can be seen in one day, five local gardeners who specialise in rhododendrons will open their doors to the public this Saturday and Sunday.
The Garden Art Gallery owners Jeanette and Graeme Blackburn will be showcasing their Lynmore garden as part of the festival.
Mrs Blackburn said all of the gardens in the festival were beautifully manicured, established gardens.
"We've been in Lynmore for 47 years, we would be the oldest private gardens open in Rotorua. We've got two art galleries in the property as I'm an artist.
"All of that will be on display for the weekend and people can buy prints and calendars.''
She said the soil in Rotorua produced beautiful rhododendrons with some of her previous visitors comparing the festival to that of the well-known New Plymouth festival.
