New Zealand Bamboo Society

21st Annual conference and AGM held at "Paloma Gardens", Fordell 26th-28th February 2010

Friday 26th February 2010
There is probably no greater 'Mecca' in New Zealand for bamboo and garden and plant and tree enthusiasts than the ever expanding wonderland that Clive & Nicki Higgie have created on their farm out of Fordell. This garden is not just of national significance, it must also rank as being of international significance. See http://www.paloma.co.nz
Conference attendees began filling the camping area amongst running bamboos confined in concrete tubs, and other accommodation options (like the woolshed!) on Friday. It was so good to see everyone, and we were all energised by our surroundings and that incredible exchange of ideas that seems to happen at every Bamboo Society gathering. The planned barbeque got rescheduled to Saturday night as Tony & Docey provided roast wild pork along with possum stew from the Marlborough Sounds, and lots more goodies as well.

Saturday 27th February 2010
We piled into and onto a ute, a jeep, 3- and 4-wheeled motorbikes, and Stuart on his pushbike.... and arrived in the "Valley of Tranquility" to a world apart. Marc & Clive had built the floor and framework of a 'rondavel' bulding which we were to help cover in split bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra henonis and Ph. nigra boryana), add wire netting to the roof, and plaster (sand + Portland cement). The setting was superb; the weather was superb; the teamwork worked well; and at the end of the day we were proud of our progress.
In the late afternoon we returned to the garden, and enjoyed an AGM (45 minutes!), plant auction, barbeque dinner in the new function centre building, and a stroll through the artistically lit gardens after dark. Whew!

Sunday 28th February 2010
In the morning Clive lead a tour of the gardens, while some of us were occasionally detained to dig plants of more treasured bamboos to take home, using "the slammer" (a tool designed and built in NZ for cutting rhizomes and digging bamboo plants).
Gradually the numbers thinned as people left to resume their lives 'outside'.... and by the evening there were just 6 of us to help muster sheep for shearing the next day.

Life is never quite the same after a visit to "Paloma". You leave with a feeling that you have reached another level of living and spiritual awareness - the warmth of the welcome from the Higgie family, the hospitality, the surreal existence of this oasis of planting in otherwise unremarkable farmland, the vision which Clive & Nicki show and the persistence with which they have achieved. An incredible inspiration!
Thank you Clive, thank you Nicki, thank you Marc, thank you Simone, thank you Guy.

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