If you are visiting the Homestead gardens on the last Tuesday of the month you may spot the colourful sight of the garden volunteers respondent in their high-vis vests.  This dedicated group have been looking after the succulent garden that spills down the sunny rockery. Some have been volunteering for over 15 years.   You’ll have to be up early though as in the summer they start at 8.30am to get their work done before the heat of the day, winter hours are in the afternoon (between 1 and 2.30pm) – volunteers may be hardy but as one put it “we don’t get paid to freeze our arses off.”  In fact they don’t get paid at all, they volunteer their time for the sheer love of the gardens.

While succulents are the main focus of the area maintained by the volunteers, they have to compete for attention from the large Doryanthes palmeri, the Giant spear lily which is currently in flower and of course, the view.  There is a stone seat set into the garden which gives a wonderful view. As Mhairi explains “It’s a beautiful place to watch the fog lift from the gardens exposing the beauty below.”

While the rockery existed in the original garden designed by Stanley and Blanche Bason, it was expanded and focused on succulents by the BBG’s former patron and notable plantswoman Yvonne Cave.  Many of the plants on display were initially gifted by Yvonne and are now cared for and propagated by the volunteers.  The beds have undergone re-planting over the past two years, in part to recover from problems caused during the covid shutdowns and sadly plant thefts.  The current volunteers keep the beds looking their best and often contribute plants from their own gardens.  

The regular garden team includes Mhairi Pullen, Lois Allan, Joan Robinson, Janice Hall, John McDonald and Neil Trethewy.  New members are always welcome, and recently Jocelyn and Alex Czerwonka joined the team.  Originally from Whanganui, the Czerwonka’s have fond memories of the gardens, enjoying events with their family and local church or just visiting for a walk to appreciate what is in season, as much as fresh air and exercise.  They have always been impressed with the way the gardens are maintained and being keen gardeners themselves they know how much work this takes, so having now returned to live in Whanganui they were happy to join the volunteers to maintain a part of the gardens. As Alex explains  “One morning a month isn’t too much time to give.” 

While the succulent gardens, soon to be formally named after Yvonne Cave, are the only part of the garden reguarly maintained by volunteers, from time to time we call for volunteers to assist with major replanting projects under the supervision of Fulton Hogan’s maintenance team.  So if you are ever interested in helping out, you can either pop out on the last Tuesday of the month or contact the BBG’s board via our website.