Glory days return to gardens

MARK DWYER

Enjoying the warmth of Tupare garden's new glasshouse are, from left, Rosalie Bunn, Gwen Herbert and Bev Rea. The women were at the public opening of the restored property on Saturday.

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As a jazz band hummed amid the greenery and thousands wound along garden paths, Tupare was lovingly launched into the next stage of its long life at the weekend.

The New Plymouth property has just received a substantial refurbishment and on Saturday the public was able to enjoy the result of three years' hard work.

Loaded with cream-laden scones, they took in the lovely spring weather, many remembering other special days at the landmark site.

"We all used to come to church picnics here," Gwen Herbert, 86, said.

"The children would swim in the Waiwhakaiho River. Mary Matthews would invite us. It's great to see their (the Matthews') dream kept alive.

"It's always been beautiful."

Mrs Herbert and her friends were enjoying the afternoon in a new glasshouse, built to reflect the 1950s - a time the garden was in its heyday.

"We are historical monuments here as well," she laughed.

An antiques roadshow proved a particular drawcard, with punters lining up from 9am until well into the afternoon.

Antiques experts travelled from Auckland for the day and among the hundreds of priceless heirlooms were a couple worth a fair bit - in real money. According to John and Ron, the men from Fitzroy Rotary who had their eyes on all the goings on, a bronze statuette was valued at about $10,000.

They could not say who the lucky owner was but agreed they should have picked up a Lotto ticket on their way home.

Taranaki Regional Council gardens manager Greg Rine said people had been "really impressed with the garden".

"Many people have past association with Tupare," he said.

"I think people do feel that Tupare is part of the New Plymouth and Taranaki community. I think it's really important people know we are open to them every day."