26 September, 2006

Kapiti Garden Show to attract thousands

Chocolate-scented mulch, information on water-wise gardening and innovative gardens designed by professional landscapers are just some of the attractions at the free entry Kapiti Garden Show in Paraparaumu this Labour Weekend.

The Kapiti Garden Show is the only garden show in the Wellington region and judging by the attendance of last year’s inaugural event visitors will again number in their thousands.

The event is a local council initiative to promote water-wise gardening practices. Sustainable gardening will be a major focus including practical demonstrations on recycling water from the roof and laundry.

Gardening experts and identities including Mary Robertson, Richard Nanson, Jacob de Ruiter and Jon Muller will present free talks on topics such as creating a summer-hardy lawn, gardening with wind, growing roses in Kapiti, easy-care planting for holiday homes, cooking with herbs and transforming sandy soil.

The Council’s Water Use Co-ordinator, Ben Thompson, says, “The Kapiti Garden Show is an extraordinary event with fantastic ideas for creating an outdoor living area that’s adapted to the local climate and conditions, is efficient in its water use, and that’s great to both look at and entertain in. There will also be some massive discounts on plants, gardening products and services from local retailers.”

Central to the event is a competition between local garden professionals to create the ultimate outdoor living experience, who will have their show gardens on display.

Local environmental groups will be promoting local ecology and botanical groups will be offering specialist advice including the Kapiti Rose Society, Otaki Floral Art & Gardening Club, Kapiti Camellia Society, Kapiti Fuchsia Group, and the Cactus and Succulent Society. The Wellington Innovators Network will also be on hand to offer advice and discuss DIY inventions.

Live music, garden art by accomplished Kapiti Coast artists, hip-hop performance, an outdoor café, a free bouncy castle and checkers board mean the Kapiti Garden Show will be a great day out for all in the family. Show visitors have the opportunity to win a Greysmart irrigation system worth $2,500 or a trip for two to the Ellerslie Garden Show staying in luxury Auckland accommodation.

Jan Forrest, Marketing & Promotions Manager at Coastlands Shoppingtown, says, “We are heading into our prime gardening season, so the Kapiti Garden Show is the ideal place to get practical tips and advice. The displays in the Mall from Pritchard’s Greenworld will have excellent ideas for creating vegetable and herb gardens including ingenious, portable gardens grown in bags for people with limited space.”

Ben Hoyle of Kapiti landscape design business Blue Gecko is excited at the opportunity to defend his win from last year’s event with a water-wise garden design for an outdoor living area that he will also be taking to the upcoming Ellerslie Garden Show. “Gardening for sustainable water use doesn’t mean having to grow a cactus garden. Learning about and mixing in native plants is a great water-wise solution. I’ll be aiming for a very contemporary look with my garden design by also integrating glass and stainless steel.”

Another local Kapiti business is showcasing a unique water-wise gardening solution at the Kapiti Garden Show. Ghana Gold’s premium organic mulch is made from cocoa bean husks and is a by-product of the chocolate-making process. Owner Petra Aregger says, “Ghana Gold is nutrient-rich mulch which on contact with water releases a gum that works to form a barrier over the soil, so it retains moisture incredibly efficiently. Wetting it initially also releases the aroma of chocolate, making it a much more enjoyable mulching experience!”

The Kapiti Garden Show is a joint venture between the Kapiti Coast District Council and Coastlands in Paraparaumu. For further information and a full timetable of events, please visit www.kapiticoast.govt.nz.

Show Information
Kapiti Primary School (Kapiti Road) & Coastlands Shopping Mall, Paraparaumu
Labour Weekend, 2006: 9.30am – 4.00pm Saturday, 21 October & Sunday, 22 October
Free entry and parking

ENDS

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