Dahlias & Damsons Day Sunday 15 Feb (includes a signed book!)

Join me this Sunday from 11am to celebrate two of my favourite summer things: Dahlias and Damsons! 

Enjoy afternoon tea at Sweetgum Cottage with your choice of a cuppa or a plum-infused cocktail or mocktail, with delicious damson-flavoured baking, treats & tastings, plus a sausage sizzle (served with damson and tomato sauce, of course!) Spend the afternoon admiring our dahlia display in the barn, have a nosy around my renovated colonial cottage, win spot prizes & raffles, and, of course, take part in our hilarious annual "Damson Stone Spitting Contest".

At midday, ceramic artist and urban flower farmer Fiona Henderson (NZ Gardener's new cut flower columnist) will be creating a stunning table arrangement using gorgeous dahlias. Fiona will also have her pottery for sale & lots of expert advice on offer.

At 1pm, I'll do a talk and a preserving demo, showing how to make jam, paste, damson gin, chutney and cordial, which you'll then get to try. There will also be damson preserves available to purchase (eftpos is available).

Bring your friends and enjoy a lovely day out in the country. Tickets are limited. 

This ticket includes an autographed copy of my Damson book, worth $40. (If you already have my Damson book, you can swap for The Joy of Gardening or Foggydale Farm Jam Sessions (my preserving cookbook).  

The address is 2495 Hunua Road, next to Camp Adair. (Not my old garden at Foggydale Farm.) Park in the cottage's front paddock (not on the road).