Enjoying a relaxing afternoon full of laughter, music, great company and delicious cuisine, while listening to someone talking about the joy of gardening, is a luxurious event not to be missed.

Lynda Hallinan, who has made a career out of her passion for gardening will host the Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival's Long Lunch at the Doncaster Lounge at Tauranga Racecourse on Sunday, November 20.

This much-lauded gardening guru has spent her working life writing and talking about gardening from first-hand experience.

'We are thrilled to have Lynda Hallinan join us to be part of our 2022 Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival,” says Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival director Marc Anderson.

A New Zealand gardening journalist, author, broadcaster and plantaholic, Lynda has spent half her life digging up ideas for growing food and flowers in Kiwi gardens.

She is the former editor of NZ Gardener and Weekend Gardener magazines, she previously edited the gardening pages of Your Home & Garden and NZ House & Garden magazines, she fronted TV gardening shows, was a Sunday Star-Times columnist, and talked gardening on air for many years too.

Ruud Kleinpaste. Photo: Supplied.

Lynda's latest book, ‘The Joy of Gardening', celebrates the healing power of nature and all the little moments of pleasure that our gardens bring us, from birdsong to bringing in bees and butterflies, producing nourishing food and flowers, sharing plants and memories, and seeking comfort in times of uncertainty. Autographed copies of Lynda's book will be available to purchase at the Long Lunch.

Lynda will be joined at the podium by New Zealand's 'bug man” and special guest Ruud Kleinpaste. As well as adding to the sense of great company, Ruud is certain to turn the entertainment dial up a notch resulting in laughter rippling around the room. And the event will include live musical entertainment.

Tickets for the Long Lunch with Lynda Hallinan from 12pm – 3pm on Sunday, November 20, are $125.00 and available at Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival website: www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz