Hauraki garden rambles to raise funds

More than 40 gardens across the Hauraki are set to bloom for Garden Ramble events throughout November.
The Ngātea Garden Ramble will take place on November 5, while the Waihī event will run on November 12 and 13, and the Paeroa event on November 19.
A spokesperson for Waihī Lions, which is hosting the Waihī Garden Ramble, said the 17 gardens featured in the event include small town and large country gardens, as well as 10 new gardens.
“They start in town and work out to Golden Valley, Trig Rd, Waihī Beach and on to Anthenree where three gardens sit beside each other with views to the harbour,” they said.
“Then on to Athenree Homestead where lovely Devonshire tea and tasty scones and stalls in the gardens await for you to enjoy.”
Ikebana Japanese flower arranging demonstrations by Keiko Murakami will take place in garden two on Saturday, November 2, using flowers and foliage from that garden.
There will also be a plant stall, an art stall plus cold drinks and a barbecue available, and sturdy footwear was recommended as some of the gardens were large.
The event will take place from 9am to 4pm and tickets are available for $30 for both days at Mitre 10 and New World Waihī on the day.
The Ngātea Garden Ramble will be hosted by Hauraki Plains Cooperating Parish members Jane Robinson and Jennifer Smyllie, and the event aims to raise funds for their church.
“It’s for people to see other people’s gardens to get inspiration,” Jane said.
“The idea is they can go anytime on Saturday between 9am and 5pm and they just wander through the gardens and there’s also refreshments provided at the church.” Tickets cost $25 and are available to purchase up until the day of the event from Ngātea Hammer Hardware, Country Dog Garden Centre in Paeroa, Aeroview Garden Centre in Thames, or the parish.
The inaugural Paeroa Garden Ramble will be hosted by Rotary Paeroa with 20 gardens open for public viewing.
Organiser Janet Tye said the event would take place between 9am to 4pm and aimed to rejuvenate funds within Rotary Paeroa.
“We thought it was a service to the community to have something exciting to go to, and with Covid, a lot of their funding has been down so we thought this was a way to do something different and add to the funds.”
Janet said tickets cost $25 and could be purchased up until the day of the event from Arkwrights Antiques, Country Dog Garden Centre, Aeroview Garden Centre and Stihl Shop, Thames.