COUNTRY LIVING
Page 26
100,000 tulips in city
EMILIO’S TIMBERS EST1981
The work of planting 100,000 tulip bulbs is hard to imagine but the colour, pattern and impact of them will be seen at this year’s Rotorua Tulip Fest, from October 1-9.
The Rotorua Tulip Fest has only been going for a couple of years but is growing in popularity and size each year. The Rotorua Lakes Council began growing tulips in its city gardens 15 years ago and has increased the number of bulbs planted each year. In 2015 bulbs numbered 30,000. This year 100,000 will flourish. The fest includes talks, demonstrations, guided walks, bus tours, competitions and a range of children’s activities. Gerbera growers Harald and Connie Esendam, who own PlentyFlora, became involved as part of the Tulip Fest committee. Last year they planted 1500 bulbs at their Horohoro property. This year they have 5500 in the ground and are hoping for a good showing. Fest visitors can take the bus tour and visit PlentyFlora to see their tulip display, while also getting an up-close view of thousands of colourful gerbera growing in the commercial glasshouse and learn how the geothermal heated operation works. Harald says their involvement is a way to promote the area, to support Rotorua and because they like the idea of the Tulip Fest; see: www.tulipfestrotorua.co.nz Growing beds of tulips is really second nature for this couple, who are originally from Holland and came to New Zealand many years ago when Harald was working on tissue culture of pine trees. Rotorua Inner City Focus Group spokesperson
Connie and Harald Ese will host busloads of ndam of PlentyFlora visitors at during the Rotorua Tul their nursery ip Fest. Mike Steiner, who suggested the number of tulips be boosted this year, says it’s hard not to feel sheer enthusiasm for the festival. “It has been embraced whole-heartedly by the community. It gives pure pleasure to a wide variety of people – both locals, and the many visitors it attracts to the city. “The displays will be magnificent. One-hundredthousand is a magic ‘wow’ number that will spark the interest of many – nationally too. Rotorua is stepping out and has so much going for it.” Fritha Tagg
Bay clivia make colourful splash in Singapore Clivia plants bred in the Western Bay are on show at the world-renowned Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Judy Shapland of Apata and Ian Duncalf of Te Puna together supplied 300 in-flower clivias in a variety of colours
after being approached by the New Zealand agent for Gardens by the Bay. “They [the Singapore gardens organisers] want top quality plants and can afford to bring in big plants,” says Ian. “They rotate the displays every three
months and as far as I understand, they’re fine importing material so long as it’s incinerated once the display is finished.” Ian and Judy will be among the growers with plants on display at the annual Clivia Show on Sunday, October 2, being held at Te Puna Quarry Park for the first time. “I’ve had it at my place for several years,” says Ian. “But I’ve always felt my benches were a bit high. You really need to look down on the flowers to appreciate them fully.” He’s recently named a clivia for golfing star Lydia Ko – someone he particularly admires – and is considering naming one for Lisa Carrington. The Clivia show with displays, plants for sale and growing advice is on October 2 from noon-4pm at Te Puna Quarry Park, 108 Te Puna Quarry Rd, off SH2, north of Tauranga. Entry is free.