I can smell the gardenia now :) How big was that insect? I found that kind of creepy...I'd jump everytime I passed it in the garden :) Saucy

In addition to the following - it's usually worth a trip into the local Information Centre to ask about gardens open to the public. And a visit to the Auckland City library will also be helpful: there are books on NZ gardens open to the public. Most of them seem to charge around five dollars, though some are less or free. A few URLs to get you started perhaps: all www. marshwoodgardens.co.nz tramplitewalks.co.nz landsendtexotics.co.nz tauponativeplants.co.nz parnassus.co.nz aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz koanga.org.nz gardens.org.nz heroicgardens.org.nz - based in Ak. Garden tour of LOTS of gardens. Two days - Feb 17-18 projectcrimson.org.nz King Country tour - fax (add all the bits for international) 7 878 4837 Green's Subtropical Gardens - Maungakaramea, Whangarei. Durant Subtropical Garden 40 Trig Rd, Whenuapai, Auckland Waitoka Gardens - north of Taihape 06 388 7822 (ring ahead) Worth a google - Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust Cross Hills, Otari Native Plant Museum, Ayrlies. There are heaps of others - I think the gardens.org.nz link will get you started. If you find you want to particularly follow an interest eg Fuchsias - do ask - and keep asking. If you are members of the Automobile Association, there may be a reciprocal agreement between countries so you can go to branches here and get maps and travel advice. You may also find the regional council offices helpful, and the conservancy or field offices of the Department of Conservation. Hope you enjoy your visit. Oh. A raincoat/umbrella is always prudent, ;-)

I came away heavy laden - mostly bulbs and books, which were cheap as! I enjoyed the outside rose stalls more than Delbards which was over the top, but obviously popular. I really only liked their new single yellow rose Pimprenelle - wonder where they got the name from? :-) I wasn't impressed with the new striped roses but they were also obviously popular. It is a good thing that we all have different tastes, or life would be very boring. I was also pleased to see "64 roses" for the first time and discover it is a single. I wil find room for that one somewhere. I fell in love with a dear little floribunda rose "Amber Nectar" and have already mail-ordered several. I would have liked to have bought more - Maybe I will take a shopping trolley next year.

Thank you for the wonderful piccies. I bet you were in your own personal idea of heaven, wandering around all those roses...I know I would have thought so.