A grateful green-thumbed gardener with a heart of gold is opening up her vibrant garden to fellow plant-lovers as a fundraiser for the rescue helicopter.
Geraldine Carleton is opening her garden gates every weekend from now until early March, in return for a koha.
In the first weekend, almost $150 was raised for the service, which is a cause that is dear to Geraldine’s heart. The rescue helicopter saved her husband John’s life after a serious farm accident many years ago.
The garden was showcased in the Motueka District Toy Library’s annual garden trail last November, when the spring bulbs and irises were abundant.
Now the begonias are resplendent, as are her lilies and roses.
“You can’t see anything but flowers,” says a satisfied Geraldine – and this is just the way she likes it.
Although the couple have only been in the rural Riwaka property for about two years, the garden feels thoroughly established, thanks to the mature trees, the dozen trailer-loads of plants brought across from their previous Stanley Brook property, and of course Geraldine’s devotion and thoroughly green thumb.
She remains curious as to who her mysterious tulip bulb benefactor is, after a bunch of bulbs were popped over her fence a few months ago, addressed “To the plantaholic”.
Geraldine and John’s garden is located at 27 Umukuri Rd, and people are welcome to come by for a visit between 10am and 4pm each weekend day.
