Flowers For Grandma Hazen

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22/10/06 Sunday - New Plymouth to Pukeiti Garden

*** Note there are three pages of photos. You must select each page to view all photos.

New Plymouth was wet and very dead Sunday morning. I turned in my hostel key, jumped in the car and headed out towards Pukeiti Garden. Pukeiti was a last minute destination suggested by Stephanie. Stephanie has enjoyed the photos from Grandpa and Grandma Hazen and Teresia and John’s gardens, and she knows grandma Hazen has a lot of rhododendrons. The Pukeiti garden is an internationally know rhododendron and azalea garden that Stephanie thought I would enjoy. The month of October is high blooming season for the hybrid rhododendrons and evergreen azaleas. Thanks Stephanie!!!

The road to the garden went from one lane of travel in each direction to a narrow back road with no markings a very little room to pass an oncoming car.

The sky opened up a deluge on monsoon like rains that would let up for a few minutes and then start up again. Within minutes the map of the garden was a mushy unreadable pulp so I was left to wander aimlessly through the garden. I spoke to the staff and learned that I was the first one in the garden that morning and when I left only two other people had entered the grounds.

The variety of colors, leaf sizes, fragrance, plant shapes and forms was astonishing.

Rains this day caused my camera to malfunction. See photo below for a better description.

Next stop Mt. Taranaki.

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Photos

The Hostel Cat
Nice carpet.

View of Tasman Sea from Hostel.
7:30AM

City of New Plymouth, NZ
Very quiet Sunday morning in town. Check out how wide the street is and the low profile of the buildings, not an an impressive town!

Streets were so quiet a flock of ducks went waddling down the sidewalk.
Should also note that the ducks managed to stay dry under the awnings. Very smart.

Tasman Sea 2
Taken in New Plymouth

This is a Road
On the way to the Pukeiti Garden

This is not a road.
Still on the way to the garden. It's amazing how narrow these so called two lane roads get. Drivers go flying by in the oposition direction with just a foot to spare on either side of the car.

Flowers for Grandma
Hope you get to feeling better soon. These photos are for you.

Comments

[Grandma Hazen]

They are beatiful Donavin
Your pictures sure are beatiful. Ienjoyed them very much. Sounds like you are having awonder time.

[Teresia]

Wonderful Flowers!
Donavin, The rhodies and azaleas are magnificent. Thank you so much for thinking of us and giving us the tour too! The gardens and display show look great. Wish we were there! Much love, Aunt Teresia