More than 1000 plant lovers attended the opening day of the two-day Ayrlies Plant Fair in Whitford on Friday.
Visitors enjoyed the garden and could walk the 6 hectares of internationally-acclaimed garden and 16 hectares of wetlands.
A variety of plants from many of New Zealand’s top growers were on sale and proved very popular.
Ayrlies, recognised as one of the world’s most significant gardens, is often termed ‘a living work of art’ and has been 57 years in the making. Creator Bev McConnell, now 90 years-old, is the archetypal sustainable gardener and kept busy on the day.
She has combined form, colour and often-unexpected plant combinations that delight visitors from around the world.
The garden, held in a charitable trust with the McConnell family the key sponsor, needs to find ways to increase funding so that it too is sustainable into the future.
The plant fair is a key fundraising event and opportunity for anyone interested in buying plants not usually available, or just having a fun day out in a special haven.
