Events

Do you have a garden-related event coming up? Contact Sandra to have it listed. While all effort is made to ensure accuracy, Sandra’s Garden cannot be held responsible if changes are made. New Zealand now has only two Covid-19 requirements should you test positive: Isolate for 7 days; wear a mask when visiting health facilities, including aged care. See the official website for information.

March 21 World-class Forest Visit: Otanewainuku, 9.30am-3pm, meet Mt Otanewainuku carpark, free, but please RSVP.

March 22 Predator-free Information Evening, 6-7pm, 32 Jocelyn St, Te Puke. Those attending can have a free rat trap!

March 23 Waikato Horticultural Society AGM, 7.30pm, guest speaker Sally Sleigh on ‘Plants for Bees’, Wintec classroom, Hamilton Gardens (Gate 2), visitors $5. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

March 23-26 Australasian Bromeliad Conference, Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, Auckland. Public sales day on March 25 (see below).

March 24-26 NZ Tree Crops Association Conference, Otaki.

March 24-April 1 Cambridge Autumn Festival, NZ.

March 24-April 2 Flavours of Plenty Festival, Bay of Plenty, includes Be the Beekeper each day (various times), Pahoia (between Tauranga and Katikati), $146.

March 24 Mushroom Beds in Woodchip Gardens, 3-5pm, Katikati, $25.

March 25 Wild Food Festival, 10am-4pm, Port Ōhope (near Whakatāne), $15 (under 18 free).

March 25 Worm Farm and Bokashi Bin Workshop, 10am-noon, Durham St, Tauranga, $17.

March 25 Biochar Workshop, 3.30-5.30pm, Katikati, $15. Email Grow On Katikati to book and for venue.

March 25 Bromeliad Sales Day, 8am-11am, Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, Auckland. Ph/txt Diane 027 605 7537.

March 25 Home Composting Workshop, 1.30pm, Turangi & Taupo, free. Repeated monthly until June.

March 25 Guided Tour, 9am-4pm, Koanga Institute, near Wairoa, $110. Also April 15.

March 25 Earth Hour, 8.30pm, wherever you happen to be.

March 25-26 NZ Cactus & Succulent Society Conference, Palmerston North. Plant sales 8am-9am on March 25.

March 25-26 Heritage Harvest Festival, Riverton, Southland.

March 26 Rongoā in your Backyard, 9.30am-noon, Welcome Bay, Tauranga, $45.

March 26 Autumn Festival Main Street Carnival & Fair, 10am-2pm, Victoria St, Cambridge (NZ).

March 26 The Great Pumpkin Carnival, 10am-2pm, Hamilton Gardens, free.

March 26 Rose Sunday, noon-3pm, Te Awamutu Rose Gardens and Burchell Pavilion, 1 Gorst Av, free. Ph/txt Diana, 027 574 6505.

March 26 Waipahihi Botanical Society AGM, 2-4pm, Taupo, all welcome.

March 26-28 International Camellia Society Conference, Lake Maggiore, Italy.

March 27 Get Started with Microgreens, 1-2.30pm, Envirohub, 31B Glasgow Street, Tauranga, $10.

March 28 Solomons Gold Chocolate Factory Tour, 2-2.30pm, 1 Macrae Avenue, Mount Maunganui, $20.

March 29 Tauranga Tasting Tours: Te Puke Truffles, 11.15am-4pm, $95 (transport included).

March 29 Natural Beauty Workshop, 6.30-8pm, Te Puke, $25.

March 29-April 2 Melbourne Garden Show, Melbourne, Australia.

March 30 Lux Organics Market Garden Tour, a virtual tour so join a tour at any time, free.

March 30 Food for Thought Discussion, 6.30-9.30pm, The General Cafe, 19B Pacific Avenue, Mount Maunganui, $52.

March 30-April 2 NZ Gardens Trust Conference, Wellington and Wairarapa.

March 31 Stories Through Food, 5.30-10.30pm, C’Vue Bar & Eatery, 7 Bluett Road, Ōhope Beach, $85.

To March 31 Scion 75th Anniversary Photo Exhibition, Long Mile Rd, Rotorua, free.

March 31-April 1 BOP Orchid Show, Memorial Hall, Te Puke. Ph Faye 07 573 9710.

April 1 Crop Swap Katikati, 9.30-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337.

April 1 Waikato-BOP Tree Climbing Champs, Wharepai Domain, Tauranga

April 1-16 Echo Walking Festival, Waikato, Coromandel & Western Bay of Plenty.

April 2 The Full Monty Gardening Workshop, 9.30am-3pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $150.

April 2 Palm & Cycad Sale, 9am-3pm, Auckland Botanic Gardens, Manurewa.

April 6 Kids Night Walk of Discovery Ohope, 5-8pm, family pass $12.81. Repeats April 20, May 4 and 18, June 1, 15 and 29.

April 13-15 Floral Art Society of NZ Conference, Southwell School, Hamilton.

April 14 Rongoā rākau: Introduction to Māori herbal medicine, 10.30am-noon, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $58.

April 15 Guided Tour, 9am-4pm, Koanga Institute, near Wairoa, $110. Also May 13.

April 16 Plant Fest, 9am-3pm, Racing Tauranga, Greerton, Tauranga, $13.56 (earlybird)/ $16 gate.

April 20 Kids Night Walk of Discovery Ohope, 5-8pm, family pass $12.81. Repeats May 4 and 18, June 1, 15 and 29.

April 21-23 NZ Bonsai Convention, Christchurch.

April 22 Growing with Ease, 9.30am-4.30pm, Paul Farms, near Waihi, $123.

April 22 Guided Bush Walk to Hunt Fungi, 1-3pm, Paengaroa (near Te Puke), $40.

To April 23 Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 10am-5pn, Waikato Museum, Hamilton, door charge.

April 27 Butterflies & Moths: Waikato Horticultural Society, 7.30pm, talk by Jacqui Knight, Wintec classroom, Hamilton Gardens (Gate 2), visitors $5. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

April 29 Sheds & Studios Ramble, 9am-3pm, Katikati-Waihi area, $20.

April 29 Home Composting Workshop, 1.30pm, Turangi & Taupo, free. Repeated monthly until June.

May 4 Introduction to Korowai Raranga (weaving),  6-9pm for 8 weeks, Fraser High School, Hamilton, $110.

May 4 Kids Night Walk of Discovery Ohope, 5-8pm, family pass $12.81. Repeats May  18, June 1, 15 and 29.

May 5-6 Tauranga Orchid Show, Racecourse, Cameron Rd, Greerton, Tauranga. Held at a different time this year because of the National Orchid Expo (Orchids & More) at the end of September.

May 6 Crop Swap Katikati, 9.30-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337.

May 6-7 National Chrysanthemum Show (North Island), Hawera.

May 6-7 National Chrysanthemum Show (South Island), Invercargill.

May 7 The Full Monty Gardening Workshop, 9.30am-3pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $150.

May 12 Rongoā rākau: Introduction to Māori herbal medicine, 10.30am-noon, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $58.

May 13 Garden Design Course, 9am-3pm for 2 weeks, Fraser High School, Hamilton, $95.

May 13 Flax Weaving, 10am-2pm for 4 weeks, Fraser High School, Hamilton, $80.

May 13 Make a Cupcake Bouquet, noon-4pm, Fraser High School, Hamilton, $65.

May 13 Guided Tour, 9am-4pm, Koanga Institute, near Wairoa, $110.

May 13 Home Gardening Course, online with Yotam Kay, 10am-noon for 4 weeks, $347.

May 13 Organic Regenerative Market Garden Course, online with Yotam Kay, 2pm (NZT) for 6 weeks, $847.

May 14 Plant Sale, 10am-1pm, Te Puna Quarry Park (near Tauranga), cash only.

May 14 Pūkorokoro Naturalist Trust AGM, Miranda Shorebird Centre.

May 18 Kids Night Walk of Discovery Ohope, 5-8pm, family pass $12.81. Repeats June 1, 15 and 29.

May 20 NZ Rose Society AGM, Hamilton.

May 21-27 Fungal Foray, Rotorua. All welcome.

May 23-27 Chelsea Flower Show, London.

May 25 Edible Weeds: Waikato Horticultural Society, 7.30pm, talk by Julia Sich, Wintec classroom, Hamilton Gardens (Gate 2), visitors $5. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

May 27 Home Composting Workshop, 1.30pm, Turangi & Taupo, free. Last one until October.

May 28 Botanic Gardens Day, New Zealand and Australia.

To June Colours Deluxe: The Art Album of NZ Flora by Sarah & Edward Featon, exhibition at Tairāwhiti Museum, Gisborne, free.

June 1 Kids Night Walk of Discovery Ohope, 5-8pm, family pass $12.81. Repeats June 15 and 29.

June 3 Crop Swap Katikati, 9.30-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337.

June 3-5 NZ Bird Conference, Taranaki.

June 5-9 International Heritage Rose Conference, Belgium.

June 11 The Full Monty Gardening Workshop, 9.30am-3pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $150.

June 15 Kids Night Walk of Discovery Ohope, 5-8pm, family pass $12.81. Repeats June 29.

June 22 Scuplture Park & Arboretum: Waikato Horticultural Society, 7.30pm, talk by John Wakeling, Wintec classroom, Hamilton Gardens (Gate 2), visitors $5. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

June 29 Kids Night Walk of Discovery Ohope, 5-8pm, family pass $12.81.

July 1 Crop Swap Katikati, 9.30-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337.

July 27 A Life in Floristry: Waikato Horticultural Society, 7.30pm, talk by Kate Jacobsen, Wintec classroom, Hamilton Gardens (Gate 2), visitors $5. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

August 5 Crop Swap Katikati, 9.30-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337.

August 19 Herbal Health & Healing Workshop, 9am-4pm, Koanga Institute, near Wairoa, $316 (earlybird).

August 24 Kaipaki Nursery: Waikato Horticultural Society, 7.30pm, talk by John Reeve, Wintec classroom, Hamilton Gardens (Gate 2), visitors $5. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

September 2 Crop Swap Katikati, 9.30-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337.

September 28 Orchids: Waikato Horticultural Society, 7.30pm, talk by Keith Smart, Wintec classroom, Hamilton Gardens (Gate 2), visitors $5. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

September 29-October 1 Orchids & More: Rare and Unusual Plants, 10am-4pm, Mystery Creek, near Hamilton, $10. Incorporating the 10th NZ Orchid Expo.

October 1 Crop Swap Katikati, 9.30-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337.

October 8 Plant Sale, 10am-1pm, Te Puna Quarry Park (near Tauranga), cash only.

October 22 Spring Migration Day, Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre, will include a speaker. High tide 1.30pm.

October 24-27 Rhodenza conference, New Plymouth.

October 26 Annton Nursery: Waikato Horticultural Society, 7.30pm talk, Wintec classroom, Hamilton Gardens (Gate 2), visitors $5. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

October 27-November 5 Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival, $2/garden.

October 27-November 5 Taranaki Garden Festival.

November 4 Crop Swap Katikati, 9.30-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337.

November 8-12 Garden Marlborough, Blenheim.

November 10-12 Rotorua Garden Festival, Rotorua.

November 23 Garden Flowers for Christmas Weeds: Waikato Horticultural Society, 7.30pm talk, Wintec classroom, Hamilton Gardens (Gate 2), visitors $5. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

December 1-3 National Rose Show, Timaru.

December 2 Crop Swap Katikati, 9.30-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337.

2024

Australian Native Plants Society Conference, Victoria, Australia.

Matamata Festival of Flowers, NZ

March Floral Art World Show, Auckland, New Zealand Cancelled, according to their FB page. However, one link for ‘more news’ doesn’t work and the other contains no information about the cancellation.

March 21-24 European Orchid Council Conference and Exhibition, Dresden, Germany.

NZ Botanic Gardens:

Auckland: Upcoming events

Christchurch: Events calendar

Dunedin: What’s On listing

Wellington: Events.