Pure Plant-based Platters

with Wild Pear Kitchen & Black Gates

Chere Bailey from Wild Pear Kitchen and Gill and Greg Miles from festival garden Black Gates, are joining forces to show you how to create bright, fresh and tasty plant-based platters. Think colourful hummus starring carrot and turmeric or beetroot, vegan cheeses, wild weed pesto and roasted vegetables, gluten free seeded crackers – and more. Pairing 35 years in hospitality with decades of growing vegetables means you will learn from the best – Chere is an award-winning café owner and Gill and Greg have a garden packed with edibles. This event begins with Gill taking a tour of Black Gates’ extensive veggie garden where much of the platter produce comes from. Chere will then lead a platter-making demonstration, and you can enjoy tasting an abundance of deliciousness… with a glass of wine! Make sure you bring your appetite.

“Learn the art of designing a platter from foraging in the garden, using quick and easy recipes and how to feed a large group affordably,” says Chere. “We’ll show people how to work with colour, heights and to put together a gorgeous-looking platter.”

“We will be teaching people about harvesting, preparing and free-flow freezing of garden produce – and how to use it to make fresh recipes,” says Gill.

Wild Pear Kitchen is open Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30am to 3.30pm during the Taranaki Garden Festival.

Date/time Sun Oct 29, 4pm–6pm Sun Nov 5, 4pm–6pm

Venue Black Gates, 6 Holly Oak Tce, New Plymouth

Admission $90pp (includes garden tour, platter demonstration and tasting, glass of wine).

Bookings gardenfestnz.co.nz or TAFT Office, 50 Brougham Street, New Plymouth Ph 06 7598 412. Bookings essential, limited numbers.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

A traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony is an art, a spiritual ritual, and a symbol of culture. It is believed that this ceremony maintains a peaceful mind, washes away stress and fatigue. The Japanese Tea House in Taranaki was authentically designed, built and landscaped in the customary style. All materials and tradesmen, including the gardener were brought out from Japan by the owner Mr Masashi Iwata during its construction in 2009. Participate in this unique experience of a Japanese Tea Ceremony prepared respectfully by the skilled Tea Master.

Date/Time Daily 11am & 5pm during the festival

Venue Japanese Tea House, 59 Dorset Ave, New Plymouth.

Admission $10pp

Capacity 10 per session

Bookings gardenfestnz.co.nz or TAFT Office, 50 Brougham Street, New Plymouth Ph 06 7598 412. Bookings essential, limited numbers.

Wreath Making Masterclass with Jeanette Findlay

Join professional florist Jeanette Findlay to learn the art of wreath making. Using her expertise in all things flora-related, she will teach you how to make your own decorative and welcoming wreath for Christmas or any other occasion.

Jeanette opened her own flourishing floristry business in central New Plymouth in 1981 and trained up several staff who went on to open shops of their own.

A highlight for Jeanette came earlier than that: “I made Queen Elizabeth’s posy of flowers in the 70s.”

Her history of sharing floral knowledge has deep roots. She was involved in teaching educational weekends around the country for Teleflora and, for several years, was a tutor of floristry at the local polytechnic. Calling on that rich background, Jeanette will teach, inspire and guide you through the creative process to make your own wreath using plant material.

Date/time Thurs 2 Nov, 1pm–3pm

Venue Hurworth Country Garden, 603 Carrington Rd, New Plymouth 4371

Admission $120pp

Date/time Sat 4 Nov, 1pm–3pm

Venue Tairoa Lodge, 3 Puawai St, Hāwera

Admission $120pp

Bookings gardenfestnz.co.nz or TAFT Office, 50 Brougham Street, New Plymouth Ph 06 7598 412. Bookings essential, limited numbers.

Jazz Soiree with The Starlights

Come along to an evening of jazz classics from the '40s, '50s and '60s in the beautiful King Edward Park. Dress up and bring your friends to enjoy the energy and skills of the finest Taranaki jazz musicians.

Date/Time Sun 29 Oct, 4pm-7pm

Venue King Edward Park, cnr. High St and Camberwell Rd, Hāwera

Admission $30pp (includes fresh food picnic hamper) BYO.

Contact Miranda Cullen 027 571 8893

Tickets South Taranaki i-SITE Visitor Centre 06 278 0555

Marcella's Markets

On the edge of the garden and open daily during the festival, you can find Marcella’s Market. Grab your espresso coffee, snacks and hot food from the onsite café, The Barrel, and peruse the handcrafted, quality goods from local stall holders. Plants, produce and garden art will be on display including local honey produced from bees on the property.

To see the full list of what’s on offer visit @marcellapointnz on Facebook.

The list keeps growing – just like a garden.

The Barrel

Full café amenities

Date/Time Daily 9–5.30pm marcellapointnz

Venue Marcella Point, 280 Mountain Road, Lepperton

Admission Free event, usual garden fee applies (one ticket).

Meet Horses Helping Humans

Horses Helping Humans Taranaki, Hōiho Hāpai Hapori is an equine assisted learning programme that helps vulnerable rangatahi gain tools to proactively manage anxiety, anger and low self confidence. This in turn improves their assertive communication; their decision making when under pressure; and strengthens their resilience. Join us for an interactive experience to see behind the scenes at HHH. Have a tour of our venue, meet the amazing herd of horses and hear about our journey so far.

Date/Time Saturday's during the festival, 2pm (Sunday wet weather day)

Venue Goodin Country Garden, 158 Mirikau Rd, Warea, 4381.

Admission $15pp (under 12 Free)

Capacity 30 per session

Bookings jgoodin@farmside.co.nz

Bookings essential, limited numbers.

Audio Described Garden Tour For people with low vision

People with low vision are invited to tour five festival gardens, where foliage and flowers, paths and plantings, will be described in detail. Puke Ariki staff will be the audio describers of Te Kukumara, The Galleys Garden, Lepper Garden, Kahikatea and Te Henui Cemetery.

The bus tour, supported by Weir Brothers, is a day-long outing and people are asked to bring their own lunch.

Date/time Wed 1 Nov, 9am–5pm

Venue Tour leaves from the Festival Hub

W.R. Phillips Volkswagen Taranaki

156-158 Devon St West, NP

Admission $30pp (includes bus tour)

Bookings TAFT Office, 50 Brougham Street, New Plymouth Ph 06 7598 412. Bookings essential, limited numbers.