Walking the undulating paths of Te Kainga Marire, through an idyllic landscape of native New Zealand plants, it came as a bit of a jolt to peer through the foliage and see a next-door neighbor’s quite ordinary-looking backyard. In my wandering, I’d quite forgotten that I’d entered this “wild New Zealand” from its entrance on a neighborhood cul-de-sac, with the city of New Plymouth’s busy downtown but minutes away.
The Netherlands’ Floriade World Horticultural Expo takes place once every 10 years. Running dates in 2012 are April 5-Oct. 7. On May 20, my husband, John, and I drove from Amsterdam to Venlo, near the German border, to attend Floriade 2012. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with it.
The expo’s infrastructure was impressive, with shuttles taking us from a distant parking lot to an area where we walked through a plexiglass tunnel over a highway to the large entrance. Laid out amongst a few woods were five themed areas (“Environment,” “Education & Innovation,” etc.).
2004 marks the bicentenary of the Royal Horticultural Society, and Britain is celebrating with the Year of Gardening. Marking the occasion, the 2004 edition of a garden-visiting guide has increased the number of gardens featured to 1,250 and reduced its price to £12.99. In the 672-page paperback “The Daily Telegraph Good Gardens Guide” (2004, Frances Lincoln, Ltd., ISBN 0711222622 — 672 pp., $24.95), all the places featured are open to the public.
by Richard M. Dorsey, Hacienda Heights, CA
In southeastern Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, the botanic garden and art gallery Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim (Rua B, 20, Inhotim, Brumadinho, MG, Brazil 35460-000; phone +55 31 3571 9700) spans 5,000 acres and offers two dozen art pavilions with contemporary art by Brazilian and international artists.
Admission is free on Tuesday, BRL20 ($10) Wed.-Thurs. and BRL28 ($14) Fri.-Sun. Extra, a BRL10 pass gives use of hop-on/hop-off electric vehicles driven by staff between three stops in the park.
Through Sept. 30, 2012, visitors to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland; phone [0131] 556 5100), at the east end of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, can combine their tour of the residence with a half-hour “Garden History Tour,” including ruins of a 12th-century abbey and the site where the Queen’s Garden Party takes place.
The guided walk runs hourly, with the last tour starting at 5 p.m. Combined residence/garden tour tickets cost £12.80 (near $20) adult, £11.65 senior or £7.85 child (6-16); under 5 is free.
VisitBritain has a new brochure on beautiful and historic gardens of Britain. It includes info on events and festivals (2004 is the “Year of Gardening” in Britain); insider tips from head gardeners; garden tours and holidays; courses throughout Britain, and seasonal information on which gardens to see and when.
The brochure is available free from VisitBritain’s Travel Center, 551 Fifth Ave., Ste. 701, New York, NY 10176-0799; phone 877/899-8391 or e-mail travelinfo@visitbritain.org.
by Nancy Eager, Hayward, CA
by Yvonne Horn
REPORT ON NETHERLANDS…