Moss couches, a suspended forest, floating fountain, school gardens and a wildflower world are just some of the drawcards sucking in 400 visitors every hour today at The NZ Garden & Art Festival's Lakes Expo Pavilion.

From 9.30am the festival's hub has been buzzing with greenfingers, artists and those who just love a good show of the sights and activities a garden and art festival in the Bay of Plenty has to offer.

Visitors enjoying the Tauranga Intermediate garden at The Lakes pavilion. Photos by Tracy Hardy.

Festival publicist Liz French this huge hourly tally backs up yesterday's high interest of 400 attendees per hour as well. 'And we've still got tomorrow to go, which finishes at 2pm, so anyone who hasn't been down should get down as soon as they can.”

Liz says festival organisers have received fantastic feedback to the displays and activities on offer 'and everyone's had a wonderful time down here – so we're pleased”.

This year is the first time the festival has had a dedicated hub, and The Lakes setting has worked well, says Liz.

Today there's been a fashion show, Lipika Sen & Prabhjyot Majithia's The Tricky Box 8 on display, design gardens, living green walls, a sculpture walk, floral fashion and displays, a picnic setting and much, much more.

'Everyone has loved the moss couches, they've loved the pavilion garden; The Art of Kokedama [suspended forest], the moss balls, have all had a wonderful response; and the café has been very popular too,” says Liz.

The moss couches have been very popular at the NZ Garden & Art Festival's Lakes Expo Pavilion.

'The school gardens have been phenomenal – really there hasn't been anything people haven't loved.

'And a lot of people have discovered things here they didn't realise would be here – like the environmental gardens, the artists up the hill, the succulent sculptures – just quirky things around every corner.”

Liz hopes the festival will inspire more people to garden on their properties.

'I'm not a gardener but it inspires me no matter what. And the less I garden the more I'm amazed at what other people are able to achieve.

'And I think that's it – the festival's a spectacle.”

Liz says the weather has also played a part in today's success. 'Some people have said it's nicer than full sun, as it's not so hot.”

The NZ Garden & Art Festival's Lakes Expo Pavilion is open tomorrow from 9.30am-2pm.

Ryan Fletcher, 5, with Woody Busters. Photos by Tracy Hardy.

Irene Edgar and Jeanette Hayton in the Bellevue Primary School ‘Eat Live Play' garden.

Festival-goers at Bellevue Primary School ‘Eat Live Play' garden.

Crawshaw Landscapes' display.

Piper Rickey, 3, Willow Potton, 8, and Lara Rickey, 9, enjoying the day.

The Signature Homes suspended forest of Kokedama by Pickled Whimsy.