New Zealand Bamboo Society
20th Annual conference and AGM held in Nelson 20th-22nd February 2009
By late Friday afternoon some of the Bamboo Society were converging on Larry & Christie's delightful old villa right near the cathedral in Nelson. Such a warm welcome, and so much to talk about, and.... some of the women got loose amongst Christie's merchandise! She & Larry run a retail business, Tula & Niles, with "lots of pretty dresses". At the appointed time (or just after...) we dragged ourselves away from Larry's bamboos, and Christie's dresses, and drove out along the road North from Nelson to Wakapuaka and John Gosney's fascinating home base. What an inspiration! An old quarry had been transformed into a landscaper's wonderland by John, and the result was as diverse and colourful as John himself. There were numerous bamboos, water features, large concrete "Easter Island Moai" heads, and amongst these were piles of materials (some rock, old vehicles and other rusting steelwork, a sauna made from a steel tank, an old fibreglass pool...). The house itself was intriguing enough - much use of ferrocement and concrete, with old tools set into the flooring as ornamentation, and art works using painted bicycle frames, old clothing mannequins, sculptures... it all bore out the view that "The Lord of the Rings" was a documentary, not a fantasy! :-) Duo Jackson (Miles & Margaret, who live just up the hill) entertained us right royally, with guitar music and later a complete ensenble of three violins and guitar. John roasted chickens over his magnificent outside fire, and the meal was one to remember. And that was only Friday.
On Saturday morning we visited Alistair Mackintosh's bamboos. The very clever fence made with culms slotted into a timber framework bears copying. Next call Allendale Garden Products (www.allendalegp.co.nz), the home of Silky saws. We were able to test and buy.... and many a budget got dented! Then on the road again to Marcel & Nealy Creyghton's home upstream from Motueka, near Ngatimoti, for a picnic lunch on their verandah, with a roof supported by bamboo framing. Marcel is a woodworker, furniture maker, and gardener - we tried his magnificent rocking chairs, enjoyed a demonstration of his marimba, and were fascinated by his ingenuity when using bamboo, including a hemispherical framework destined to support a net over a fruit tree. Larry & Mark demonstrated aspects of splitting bamboo. Now way behind schedule we headed up and over the Takaka Hill to Upper Takaka and Helen Bracefield's....
I have long contended that a passport is more likely to be needed crossing into Golden Bay than crossing the Tasman - it is a magical world apart. The magnificent vista from the top of the hill warns you that you have crossed into another space. The welcome and hospitality we received were magnificent. On Saturday evening we explored a little of the garden, we feasted, we talked. Next morning some took a bracing dip in the Takaka River, then Helen took us on a guided tour of her property and her bamboos. The AGM was conducted in these special surroundings - retiring president David Hyams had been unable to be with us, so his report arrived by email; we elected Larry Reuter to be our new president. Many alluring plants in the auction. Then we feasted again! As we dispersed to return through the looking glass, or whatever, there were many regrets it was over, that we had to leave, and many expressions that it was the "best ever" conference. Thank you so much to Larry for organising, for our hosts, and for that incredible group of people who have discovered that Bamboo Society conferences are always worth attending - for the places, for the plants, and most of all for the people!
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