Visitors tour local gardens

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 24, 13 November 1984, Page 10

Visitors tour local gardens

The 39th Annual Conference of the NZ Rhododendron Association was held at the Chateau from the 23-26 October and was attended by 220 people from throughout the country. The conference was opened by Mr Bruce Jefferies. Chief Ranger at the Tongariro National Park and delegates were welcomed by President of the NZ Rhododendron Association, Dr John Commons. On Wednesday 24 October, a party of Americans from the United States Rhododendron Society joined the New Zealand delegates. Guest of honour at that evening's dinner was Mr Te Van Veen, who is the biggest commercial grower of rhododendrons in the States and is as well a noted author on the subject. Mrs Janet Binford, the National President of the American Rhododendron Society was the special guest. Throughout the conference, delegates along with their American companions, visited several gardens locally. They included John and Doreen Hawkins, Owhango, Don and Marion Tidswell, Manunui, Geoff and Margaret Thomson, Barry and Amanda Crocker and Des and Barbara Hayes, all of Taumarunui, Ron and Helen Gordon, Mataroa, Gordon and Annette Collier and Henry and Cynthia Collier of Taihape and finally, Mac and Cora McConachie'Sw beautiful garden in Smiths Road, Ohakune. It was this visit that proved to be the highlight for most.of the delegates and particularly for the American tourists. Y ears of hard work by the McConachie's since they took over the property after the Second World War can be seen when one takes a walk around the garden. The couple's first love is rock gardening. There are many rocks scattered around the section, most came from

the land which now houses the Ohakune Club, which Mr and Mrs McConachie previously owned. According to Cora McConachie, the American

tourists were full of questions about her garden and were most complimentary. Most were impressed by the artificial lake at the rear of the house which has

an abundance of plant life growing both in and around it. The conference concluded with afternoon tea at the Waimarino Golf Club.

Mary Anne

• Gill