Dunedin Rhododendron Festival Brochure Released

The 2009 Dunedin Rhododendron Festival brochure is now available for all to view. The full colour brochure outlines the 50 plus events that will take place during the Festival. From the opening event with Dennis Greville, to the city’s spectacular rhododendron gardens, the Nichol’s Vege Bus and everything in between, the Festival is sure to have something to excite everyone.

Highlights for the Festival include:

• Author and photographer Dennis Greville will open the Festival with a talk on the topic of his latest book, ‘Colourful Gardens' and will share secrets about the way in which colour use in the garden is able to transform an environment. He will also present two workshops on ‘Easy on the Pocket Vegetable Gardening’ during the Festival. Dennis has written 15 gardening books and is a regular columnist and photographer for 'New Zealand Gardener', as well as other national and international publications.

• Doug Thomson, curator of Dunedin Botanic Garden's Rhododendron Dell, will present a demonstration on rhododendron care. Doug will answer frequently asked questions through practical demonstrations of planting, transplanting, fertiliser application, installing drainage, dead heading and pruning.

• Nichol’s presents their Vege Bus which will visit three knowledgeable Dunedin vegetable gardeners who are keen to show their vegetable gardens and offer hints and tips to first time and experienced gardeners.

• The new time format of the Festival has enabled the Dunedin Horticultural Society 38th Annual Rhododendron Day to coincide with the Festival. There will be many plant stalls with a wide range of rare and unusual plant treasures at very reasonable prices.

• Larnach Castle is presenting a new event for the Festival called Tasting’s in the Garden. Guests will be able to sample some of Otago’s finest wines and beers, and enjoy tastings of delicious locally produced food.

• Popular Dunedin culinary identity Judith Cullen will host a cooking demonstration and garden tour especially for the Dunedin Rhododendron Festival. Judith will speak about her seaside garden and what plantings are suitable for coastal gardens and kitchen potagers and will then carry out a cooking demonstration using seasonal produce.

• There will be over 20 open gardens that will be open during the Festival as well as numerous garden tours.

• Glenfalloch Woodland Garden is providing a unique backdrop to present local talented artists and sculptors working in the garden at their ‘Art in the Garden’ event. Many local artists will take part with the rhododendrons on display as their backdrop.

Festival Co-ordinator, Victoria Bunton, says “I am extremely happy with the Festival brochure this year, both in its content and design. I am pleased to offer the public a comprehensive program of events which introduces a number of new events to the Festival for 2009.”

To receive your own copy of the Festival brochure please visitor the Dunedin i-Site Visitor Centre, email info@rhododunedin.co.nz or phone (03) 477 1092.

The Dunedin Rhododendron Festival will be celebrating its 26th Anniversary when it takes place from 18 to 26 October 2009.

BACKGROUND
The Dunedin Rhododendron Festival has a well established history as a favourite community event. In 1984 a week long celebration focused on the Botanic Gardens' Rhododendron Dell, which is acknowledged as one of the world's most significant plantings of rhododendrons. Today the Dell covers 15 acres of land where there are over 3500 rhododendrons comprised of 178 species and over 200 named hybrids.

The Dunedin Rhododendron Festival is now a weeklong celebration that encourages residents and visitors to the city to experience and enjoy Dunedin’s rhododendrons and gardens. This is achieved by creating a well-balanced programme of events relating to rhododendrons, gardening and associated leisure activities.

ENDS

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