The second Gardens on Wheels event in Te Puke on Sunday, November 16, was a success despite being a little low key.

It was a competition for gardens of different sizes – the only criteria being they needed to have wheels so everything from toy trucks to wheelbarrows were acceptable.

Although entry numbers were slightly down on the first event last year, organiser Karen Summerhays said it was still a successful day.

“The difference was the quality of entries was higher and they actually got what we were talking about this time,” she said.

There was even an impromptu demonstration, Summerhays said.

“There were a couple of people who came and built their garden on site – they brought all their stuff in and spent the morning building it.”

The Flower Fairy, aka Milly Bea. Photo / Stephen Fawcett, The Vector Group

Plenty of people made a day of it, taking picnics and enjoying the atmosphere created in Jubilee Park.

There were entries from individuals as well as Te Puke Community Garden, Vincent House and Summerset Retirement Village. And it was the miniature Zen garden in a wheelbarrow from Vincent House that won both the best in show award and the people’s choice prize.

Other winners were Steam Garden by Sam, Barrow Beauty by Clare Clarke, and Daily Life in the Garden by Te Puke Community Garden in the small, medium and large categories respectively; Rosalie’s Baby by Rosalie Dale won the children’s category and Barrow Beauty won the sustainability/kai security category.

The creators of the toilet garden made sure it qualified as a Gardens on Wheels by putting it on a trolley. Photo / Stephen Fawcett, The Vector Group

Flower Fairy Milly Bea was on hand to provide entertainment, dancing and bubbles.

Summerhays said there was a good number of sponsors including Arun Mehan Bayleys Real Estate, Te Puke Landscape Supplies, Te Puke Mitre 10, Trevelyan’s Pack and Cool, Pacifica Home & Garden Store, Bee Wrapt, King Seeds, Revital and Goodwood with Vector Group Charitable Trust, Sustainable Endeavours Charitable Trust and Made in Te Puke Charitable Trust all helping with the organisation of the event.

Plenty of imagination went into this Gardens on Wheels entry. Photo / Stephen Fawcett, The Vector Group

Money from the gold coin donation requested to make a people’s choice vote raised $150 for Te Puke Community Garden, Summerhays said.