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 no longer has any Covid-19 requirements.

May 12-18 Fungal Foray, Havelock, Marlborough. All welcome.

May 13 Home Composting Workshop, 3.30-5pm, Linton Park Community Centre, Rotorua, free but please register.

May 14 Celebrate the Bumblebee, talk by Geoff Brunsden, 7-9pm, Putaka Maunawi hub (next to library), Katikati, koha. Please book a seat by email.

May 16 Managing Multi-species Crops in Pasture, Orchards & Gardens, 9.30am-4.30pm, Waihi area, $160.

May 17 Fascination of Plants, 5.30-6.30pm, Rotorua Library, free. Talks by 3 Scion staff members to celebrate Fascination of Plants Day

May 17-20 National Bonsai Convention, Brisbane, Australia.

May 18-19 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

May 19 Full Monty Gardening Workshop, 9.30am-3pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge (near Waihi), $150.

May 19 Pūkorokoro Naturalist Trust AGM, 11am, Miranda Shorebird Centre.

May 20 World Bee Day.

May 21 International Tea Day.

May 21-25 Chelsea Flower Show, London.

May 21-23 Tautari Wetlands Highlights, 1.30pm, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $42 (concessions available).

May 21-26 Ancient Forest Guided Walk, 9.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $60 (concessions available).

May 21-26 Seasonal Forest Highlights, 11.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $42 (concessions available).

May 22-25 World Bromeliad Conference, Florida, USA.

May 23 Takapoto Estate Garden Tour, 10am, Maungatautari, Waikato, $45 (includes morning tea).

May 23 Berries, ‘Superfoods’: Waikato Horticultural Society talk, 7.30pm, Wintec classroom, Gate 2, Hamilton Gardens, $5 non-member. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

May 25 Rongoā rākau: Introduction to Māori herbal medicine, 10.30am-noon, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $57.

May 25 Home Composting Workshop, 1.30pm, Turangi & Taupō, free. Last one until spring.

May 25 Cream Tea & Heritage Building, 2.30-5pm, Te Rūnanga Tea House, Rotorua, $10.

May 25-26 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

May 26 Botanic Gardens Day Australia & New Zealand.

May 28-30 Tautari Wetlands Highlights, 1.30pm, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $42 (concessions available).

May 28-31 Ancient Forest Guided Walk, 9.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $60 (concessions available).

May 28-31 Seasonal Forest Highlights, 11.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $42 (concessions available).

May 30 International Day of the Potato.

June 1 Garden Design, 9am-3pm for 2 weeks, Fraser High School, Hamilton, $99.

June 1-2 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

June 2 Crop Swap, 9.30am-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph/txt 0210 265 1274.

June 4-9 Ancient Forest Guided Walk, 9.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $60 (concessions available).

June 5 Arbor Day, New Zealand.

June 5 World Environment Day.

June 8 Garden Design Course, 9am-3pm for 2 weeks, Fraser High School, Hamilton, $99.

June 8-9 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

June 9 Full Monty Gardening Workshop, 9.30am-3pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge (near Waihi), $150.

June 11-16 Ancient Forest Guided Walk, 9.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $60 (concessions available).

June 12 Tauranga Herb Society AGM, time tba, Helen Loe on blending unusual teas, Pyes Pa, Tauranga. Visitors welcome.

June 13 Home Composting Workshop, noon-2pm, Linton Park Community Centre, Rotorua, free but please register.

June 14-15 World Slipper Orchid Conference, Ecuador. 

June 15-16 NZ Bonsai Convention & Show, Auckland Zoo. Two-day ticket includes workshops and trading area, $255.

June 15-16 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

June 16 For Her Dried Flower Workshop, 4-5.30pm, The Cozy Corner, Suncourt Plaza, Shop 15, 19 Tamamutu Street, Taupo, $99.

June 17 Home Composting Workshop, 3.30-5pm, Linton Park Community Centre, Rotorua, free but please register.

June 17 Rotorua Botanical Society AGM, 6pm, DOC office, Sala St, Rotorua. All welcome. Guest speakers Graeme Jane and Gael Donaghy, ‘In the Footsteps of Linnaeus’.

June 18-23 Ancient Forest Guided Walk, 9.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $60 (concessions available).

June 20 Takapoto Estate Garden Tour, 10am, Maungatautari, Waikato, $45 (includes morning tea).

June 22 Whanau Day: Matariki at the Village, 9am-2pm, Historic Village, 17th Ave West, Tauranga.

June 22 Tree Propagation Workshop, Koanga Institute, near Wairoa, $399.

June 22-23 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

June 25-30 Ancient Forest Guided Walk, 9.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $60 (concessions available).

June 27 Rose Care: Waikato Horticultural Society talk, 7.30pm, Wintec classroom, Gate 2, Hamilton Gardens, $5 non-member. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

June 28 Matariki Public Holiday.

June 29-30 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

June 29-July 7 NZ Garden Bird Survey, citizen science in action.

July 2-7 Ancient Forest Guided Walk, 9.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $60 (concessions available).

July 5-7 Winter Challenge & Garden Ramble, Waihi Beach. The challenge has cash prizes totalling $450 and costs $25 to enter: Make a decorative garden (with some living element) in a bag or suitcase. The garden ramble is free.

July 6 Crop Swap, 9.30am-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph/txt 0210 265 1274.

July 6-7 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

July 7 Full Monty Gardening Workshop, 9.30am-3pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge (near Waihi), $150.

July 7 Afternoon Tea with Jo McCarroll, 2-5pm, Waiho Beach RSA, $30.

July 9-14 Ancient Forest Guided Walk, 9.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $60 (concessions available).

July 13-14 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

July 16-20 International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society Symposium, Reading, UK.

July 16-21 Ancient Forest Guided Walk, 9.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $60 (concessions available).

July 20-21 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

July 23-28 Ancient Forest Guided Walk, 9.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, 99 Tari Road, Te Awamutu, $60 (concessions available).

July 25 Earthstewards: Waikato Horticultural Society talk, 7.30pm, Wintec classroom, Gate 2, Hamilton Gardens, $5 non-member. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

July 27-28 Hamilton Gardens Highlights Tour, 12.30pm, $25 (adult).

August 1 Takapoto Estate Garden Tour, 10am, Maungatautari, Waikato, $45 (includes morning tea).

August 3 Crop Swap, 9.30am-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph/txt 0210 265 1274.

August 3-11 Singapore Garden Festival.

August 9-11 National Orchid Extravaganza, Yagoona, Sydney, Australia.

August 22 Takapoto Estate Garden Tour, 10am, Maungatautari, Waikato, $45 (includes morning tea).

August 22 Lilies: Waikato Horticultural Society talk, 7.30pm, Wintec classroom, Gate 2, Hamilton Gardens, $5 non-member. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

August 23-26 NZ Camellia Society Conference & Show, Palmerston North.

September 1 Home Gardening Online Course, 10am (NZT) for 4 weeks with Yotam Kay, $387.

September 5 International Day of the Orchid.

September 5 International Day of Charity.

September 7 Crop Swap, 9.30am-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph/txt 0210 265 1274.

September 22-30 International Palm Society Conference, New Caledonia.

September 23-27 American Hydrangea Society Conference, Honolulu, Hawai’i.

September 25 Takapoto Estate Garden Tour, 10am, Maungatautari, Waikato, $45 (includes morning tea).

September 26 Orchids: Waikato Horticultural Society talk, 7.30pm, Wintec classroom, Gate 2, Hamilton Gardens, $5 non-member. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

September 28 Herbal Health & Healing, Koanga Institute, near Wairoa, $352.

September 28-29 Australasian Native Orchid Society Show, Mt Waverley Community Centre, Melbourne, Vic.

September 30-October 4 Australian Native Plants Society Conference, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

October 5 Crop Swap, 9.30am-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph/txt 0210 265 1274.

October 6-9 NZ Plant Conservation Network Conference, Whangarei.

October 13 Plant Sale, 10am-1pm, Te Puna Quarry Park, near Tauranga. Cash only.

October 15 International Day of Rural Women.

October 17 Takapoto Estate Garden Tour, 10am, Maungatautari, Waikato, $45 (includes morning tea).

October 19-20 Hamilton Bonsai Show, Hamilton Gardens.

October 20-25 Gardening Masterclass, Koanga Institute, near Wairoa, $973.

October 24 Friends of the Gardens: Waikato Horticultural Society talk, 7.30pm, Wintec classroom, Gate 2, Hamilton Gardens, $5 non-member. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

October 29-November 1 Rhodenza Conference, Geraldine and Timaru.

November 2 Crop Swap, 9.30am-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph/txt 0210 265 1274.

November 6-9 Matamata Festival of Flowers, Civic & Memorial Centre, Matamata.

November 7 Takapoto Estate Garden Tour, 10am, Maungatautari, Waikato, $45 (includes morning tea).

November 7-10 Pacific Rose Bowl Festival, Rogers Rose Garden, Hamilton Gardens, free.

November 14-17 Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival, Tauranga area.

November 15-18 NZ Iris Society Conference, Christchurch.

November 16 Cross Hills Gardens Country Fair, 9am-4pm, Kimbolton (near Feilding), $20.

November 17 Up the Garden Path, 9am-4pm, Taihape area, $68. Tickets on sale June 1.

November 17-19 National Rose Show, Pukekohe.

November 23 Waimarino Garden Ramble.

November 23-24 Auckland Garden DesignFest.

November 25-29 NZ Ecological Society Conference, Rotorua.

November 28 Hoyas: Waikato Horticultural Society talk, 7.30pm, Wintec classroom, Gate 2, Hamilton Gardens, $5 non-member. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

November 28-December 1 Heritage Roses NZ Conference, Cromwell.

November 30-December 1 International Permaculture Conference, Taiwan, followed by an International Convergence from December 4-10.

December 5 World Soil Day.

December 5 Takapoto Estate Garden Tour, 10am, Maungatautari, Waikato, $45 (includes morning tea).

December 6-8 Iwitahi Native Orchid Reserve Working Bee, between Taupo and Napier, accommodation available. Email Toby for more details.

December 7 Crop Swap, 9.30am-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph/txt 0210 265 1274.

2025

March 9-14 International Camellia Congress, Tokyo, Japan.

March 20-22 Australian Landscape Conference, Melbourne.

March 31-April 4 International Protea Research Symposium, California, USA.

May 18-24 World Rose Convention, Fukuyama, Japan.