Sentinel Hertige Garden hosts seniors, armed forces
15 November 2006
New Zealand men and women who served in the armed forces are being celebrated in a unique ‘heritage garden’ at the Ellerslie International Flower Show this year.
Gold medal-winning designer Sandra Arnet was retained by the Flower Show sponsor Sentinel to create a garden celebrating returned services in honour of the Year of the Veteran. In doing so, Sandra turned her back on the sculptural, leafy, iconic gardens of the Flower Show of previous years to showcase the new scented and colourful blooms that visitors love.
Hundreds of brilliant scarlet soldier poppies, and antique roses in creamy whites and scarlets are being groomed to flower by select nurseries for the Sentinel Heritage Garden, which opens the event on 15 November.
‘“Sentinel wanted a garden reference to the RSA, including the palette of their colours,’ says Sandra. ‘It’s a traditional heritage garden, which should be in full bloom in November. We wanted people to walk in and say ‘this reminds of my grandmother’s garden – she had roses like that’. We wanted people to feel they were going back in time.”’
A rose called ‘Lest we forget’, named for the RSA, and the first rose ever planted in New Zealand ‘Slaters Crimson China’ - possibly brought to New Zealand from a Sydney nursery by the enterprising Rangitira Ruatara for Samuel Marsden’s mission in the Bay of Islands in 1814 – are expected to feature. The cutting this rose was grown from descends directly from that first rose.
Winding through Sentinel’s Heritage Garden were flagstone paths, with beautiful replica stone seats. Wooden gates and a red-roofed Victorian gazebo complete the picture. The gazebo was auctioned by Sentinel on Trademe after the Flower Show, with the proceeds going to the RSA.
In keeping with its commitment to seniors, Sentinel gave away packets of soldier poppies to visitors to the garden. The company also assisted Grey Power, RSA and Age Concern members through discounted tickets and special buses.
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