Have just returned from three days in Tauranga where Lloyd was a speaker at the Garden and Art Fest. Great weekend with friends and saw some wonderful rose gardens. Can't seem to wean myself away from old roses. Saw roses we should have taken with us to the new garden but didn't and wonder why? Will have to find more room.

But I wonder at the state of gardening. The fest had some high profile speakers, Lynda Hallinan, NZ Gardener editor), Ruud Kleinpaste, (the bug man) and Peta Mathias, (the chef) and well as some less notable but proficient people speaking. Peta was sold out but Lynda and Rudd had barely 50 people there. As for the second tier of speakers, which included Lloyd, there were barely 10 listening to discussions about old roses and Iran, fragrant gardens, fungi, natives and design. All who came were elderly.

So how can the joy and importance of gardening in all it's diversity be kindled in our communities? I don't know but it was a sad indictment of our times that plant diversity and heritage may be lost. Perhaps people were all out looking at wonderful gardens! Who knows. It was lovely sunny weather and looking at someone else's work is always good for the soul.