Groups

New members and visitors are welcome to any of these groups and clubs. For full details of shows, go to the Events page. If you would like your group listed here contact Sandra.

BOP Bonsai Society: Meets the last Sunday of the month, 1pm at a member’s home. Contact: Sue, phone 572 4345, or view the website. New Zealand Bonsai Association.

There are also bonsai groups in the Eastern Bay of Plenty (Kawerau), Rotorua, Matamata and Hamilton. Go here to find out more.

BOP Bromeliad Group: Meets the second Wednesday of the month (not December-January), 12.30pm at the Yacht Club, Sulphur Point, Tauranga. Contact: Phone 576 7711. There are open days (plant display and sales) in February and November. Bromeliad Society of New Zealand.

BOP branch of the Cactus & Succulent Society: Closed in 2014. Cactus & Succulent Society of NZ

Botanic Park Project: Light gardening to tidy the park, every Thursday, 10am-noon. Sydenham Botanic Park, 6 Millers Rd, Brookfield, Tauranga. Bring your own tools. Contact: Brian, phone/text 021 122 8735.

Western BOP Camellia Society: Disbanded in 2017 after 50 years. New Zealand Camellia Society; International Camellia Society.

NZ Chrysanthemum Society: The national society holds two annual national shows, one in each island and there are two local shows a year in Waikato. Find contact details for the Waikato club here.

BOP Clivia Group: “Informal hui” held from time to time. Contact Judy, phone 07 552 0661, or Ian Duncalf, phone 07 552 4962. Has a display in October. NZ Clivia Club.

Community Gardens:

Bayfair Community Garden: Volunteers grow fresh vegetables for Tauranga Foodbank. The garden was established in 1994 (moving to its present site in 2000). Contact Jo Stock, phone the Hillier Centre, 575 9709, and leave a message for her.
Bethlehem Community Garden: In the grounds of Bethlehem Community Church, opened in 2014. Contact Anne Gourley, phone 552 4529. There is a charge for a growing space.
Herbit Vegit Gardens: Jubilee Park (near New World), new in 2014. Contact 027 324 5132, email or find Herbit Vegit Garden on Facebook.
Kati KaiWay: New in 2012. Fruit and nut trees planted on public land to provide for the community. Contact Western Bay of Plenty District Council, phone 571-8008, or Katikati Kindergarten, phone 549 0084.
Merivale Community Garden: New in 2012 on the corner of Fraser St and Alverstoke Rd. Produce is given to needy elderly and locals attending the Merivale Community Centre’s budget clinic; the project is also used to teach gardening skills. Contact Deb McCarthy, phone 571 2296.
Mt Maunganui Community Garden: New in 2012 in the May St reserve. Run along the same lines as the Otumoetai Garden (see below) where plots are rented. Contact Brian Dey, phone 575 8661.
Otumoetai Community Garden: Opened in 2010 and run on an allotment system. Contact Anne Gourley, phone 552 4529. There is a waiting list for plots and a small amount of sponsorship is available in the case of hardship.
Paengaroa Community Garden: New in 2014, set up outside the Experience Comvita visitor centre. For more information see the Paengaroa Community Garden Facebook page.
Papamoa Community Garden: New in 2012. Produce supplies the Papamoa Support Centre Foodbank. Volunteers and donations needed. Contact Owen Takuira-Ngaropo, phone 572 1175.
Rangiuru Community Garden: New in 2012 with a 2000 square metre site. Produce distributed either free or at low cost to those in need. Volunteers and donations needed. Contact Jenny Utting, phone 573 7081 (Baptist Church), 021 623 8161
Te Puke Community Garden: Jubilee Park (near New World), new in 2014. Contact 027 324 5132, email or find Herbit Vegit Garden on Facebook.
Waihi Community Garden: New in 2014, known as Spade to Spoon. To find out how to get involved phone Barry, 021 028 48674.
Waihi Beach Community Garden: New in 2015, organised by the Wellness Mummas in Wilson Park. To find out how to get involved phone 022 066 0965.
Welcome Bay, Tauranga: New in 2015 – 20 plots available for $12.50/month. For more information contact Cam, phone 027 418 4546 or email. See the project’s Facebook page.

Daffodil Society of NZ: The Northern Daffodil Club incorporates Waikato and Bay of Plenty. It meets eight times a year and hosts two shows annually. Contact Margaret Tyrrell, phone 07 862 7900.

Dahlias:

Waihi Dahlia Club: Contact Jennifer Chappel, phone 07 863 7563. Has a show in January.
Hamilton Dahlia Society: Contact Marie, phone 07 839 5830.
There are also clubs in Rotorua and Te Awamutu. Dahlia Society of NZ

EnviroHub BOP: Co-ordinating community projects and events such as Urban Greenspace, Household Sustainability and Sustainable Backyards Month. Based at the Historic Village in 17th Ave and also known as the Tauranga Environment Centre.

Floral Art:

Floral Art Society NZ has six groups in the BOP with one each in Tauranga and Te Puke. Details and contact persons here.
There is a Floral Art Group in Katikati, meets fourth Monday of month at the Baptist Church Lounge, 1.15pm (from February each year). Contact: Dianne 549 0722 or Helen 549 5222.
Waikato Groups: Contact details here. Floral Art Society of New Zealand.

Tauranga Fuchsia Group: Meets the last Saturday of the month, 1pm at the Arts & Craft Centre, Elizabeth St West (near the expressway). Contact: Pat, phone 579 1655. Has a show in December at the Arts & Crafts Centre. National Fuchsia Society of New Zealand.

Herb Societies:

Katikati: Meets the second Wednesday of the month, 7pm, at St Paul’s Presbyterian Church lounge (corner of SH2 & Mulgan St, Katikati). Contact: Jenny Ager-Pratt, phone 552-0697. Herb Federation of New Zealand. Read an interview with Jenny about “weeds” here.
Tauranga: Meets at various days and times. Contact: Barbara Cuttance, phone 544 2152. Herb Federation of New Zealand.

BOP Iris Group: Meets the last Sunday of the month, from 11am (includes a shared lunch) at a member’s home. Contact: Christina, phone 07 543 1128. There is also a website, mainly set up for the 2012 national convention. A show is held in November. NZ Iris Society.

Lily Society: The nearest group is in Hamilton. A show is held in January. Waikato Lily Society. NZ Lily Society (based in Christchurch).

Orchid Societies:

Bay of Plenty: Meets second Sunday of the month, 1.30pm, Masonic Lodge, 18 Oxford St, Te Puke. Contact: Faye. A show is held in April in the War Memorial Hall, Te Puke.
Tauranga: Meets third Tuesday of the month, 7pm at the Wesley Church hall, 13th Ave. Contact: Conrad, phone 552 0661, or Sandra, phone 577 6676. A show is held in October.

NZ Rhododendron Association: The nearest group is in Rotorua. Contact secretary Rob Singleton, phone 07 827 5607.

Rose Groups:

Tauranga Heritage Roses: Meets at least four times a year, the frequency varying with the season. The November meeting is generally a garden tour and a cuttings day is held in conjuction with the AGM (March/April). Contact Lorraine Dixon phone 07 862 9145. Heritage Roses NZ.
BOP Rose Society: Meets the third Sunday of the month, 1.30pm, at various places (fewer meetings over winter). Contact: Judy. A show is held in November. New Zealand Rose Society.

Te Puna Quarry Park: Work day every Tuesday, 9am-noon at the park (at the end of Quarry Rd, off SH2). Bring garden tools and morning tea. Contact: Jo Dawkins, phone 552 5789. There is also a website. A QuarryFest is held on the first Sunday of November.

Tree Groups:

BOP Tree Crops Association: Field day meetings on the second Sunday of the month. Contact: Elizabeth, phone 549 2795. NZ Tree Crops Association.
BOP Tree Society: A volunteer group formed in the 1960s that maintains the trees at McLaren Falls Park. Work days are held every Monday from 1pm. Contact: Dave Kershaw, phone 579 2580, or John Sich, phone 543 2152.

Other

Moths & Butterflies of NZ Trust

NZ Alpine Garden Society

NZ Arboricultural Association for professionals and non-professionals.

NZ Bamboo Society

NZ Carnivorous Plant Society: Is no longer active.

NZ Fern Society: The website has disappeared.

Fungal Network of NZ

NZ Gardens Trust: Gardens open to the public are assessed and details listed on the website.

NZ Palm and Cycad Society

NZ Plant Conservation Network

Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture: Based at Lincoln University and open to anyone interested in horticulture and gardening. Has an annual conference plus other area events.

International

African Violet Society of Australia

Alpine Garden Society

Ancient Tree Forum (UK)

Australian Native Plants Society

Cactus & Succulent:

– British Cactus and Succulent Society

– Cactus and Succulent Society of America

– Cactus and Succulent Society of Australia

The Cycad Society

The Cyclamen Society

Ferns: