Sunday October 21
Port Chalmers & District Lions Club "Day in the Dell", 11am-3pm, at the Lady Thorn Rhododendron Dell, Church St, Port Chalmers (behind Iona Church, off Ajax Rd). Rhododendrons for sale, live music, Lions Club barbecue. All welcome. Free.
Thursday, October 25
Floral art fun for beginners, six-week course starts today at 11am, St Peter's Church hall, Hillside Rd. For registration and more information, phone Faye-Noel 487-8546 or Pat 476-7311.
Saturday, October 27
Hands-on composting workshops, led by Michelle Ritchie, from Organic by Design, will be held from 1pm-5pm in Brockville. Workshops cost $10, which includes afternoon tea. Maximum 12 participants per workshop. For registration and more information, phone the DCC's customer services centre on 477-4000.
Sunday, October 28
Gardens Around Waitati Tour, Otago Boys' trip fundraiser. 11am-3pm. Tickets from Nicol's Garden Centre and Blueskin Nurseries. Inquiries to Jackie on 454-2261.
Waihola Plant Fair, Waihola Community Hall, SH1, 10am-3pm. Plants, shrubs, grasses, annuals, perennials, vegetables, raffles and delicious baking. Fundraiser for Waihola District School.
Day in the Dell on Sunday
Port Chalmers Lions Club members Les Box (left) and Bill Parsons do some tidying to ensure the Lady Thorn Dell will be in tip-top shape for this Sunday's Day in the Dell.
The free event, running from 11am until 3pm, features music by the Three Altos and stalls with art, garden crafts and plants for sale, including rhododendrons at $10 each.The Lions will be operating a barbecue and will also have their well-known seafood chowder for sale. If Sunday is extremely wet, people are advised to check radio stations in case of cancellation.
The dell, named for Connie, Lady Thorn, wife of former long-serving Port Chalmers mayor Sir John Thorn, is on the site of a quarry which began operations in 1862.
After the quarry closed, the site became overrun with sycamores, pines and other unwanted plants. In 1993, the Chalmers Community Board decided to develop it into a rhododendron dell. The Lions club, which built the walls and installed the gates, looks after the area and as well as rhododendrons, has planted decorative and native trees, including rata and pohutukawa.
- Gillian Vine
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