What better way to celebrate a busy year than with two successive Saturdays of good music and good food?
Hollard Gardens in Kaponga will be doing just that on 31 October and 7 November, with live music by Gumboot Tango, and Taranaki Farmers Market food stalls from 9am to noon on both days.
It's been a year since the gardens were relaunched after a major renovation project by the Taranaki Regional Council, which owns and administers the property on behalf of the people of the region.
"It's been a busy year, with a full programme of free public events including the successful series of five workshops on home gardening," says the Council's Regional Gardens Manager, Greg Rine.
"It's been great to see the community really embrace Hollard Gardens. Visitor numbers shot up from 2,500 in 2007/08 to 11,600 in 2008/09, and the trend is continuing."
Hollard Gardens is also a host property for the Taranaki Rhododendron and Garden Festival, and will host a garden talk on clipping and shaping trees (Sunday 1 November, 2pm-3.30pm) and a guided walk (Tuesday 3 November, 2pm-3.30pm). Both events are free.
Hollard Gardens is open from 9am to 8pm daily, and has a children's playground and free barbecue facilities. Entry is free.
For more information, see www.hollardgardens.info.