After involvement in the Festival as a Trustee I am now enjoying the privilege of Directorship. My responsibility – with the support of the Trustees and the generosity of the gardeners and artists of the Bay of Plenty – is to bring you a Festival that will delight and involve you, an event fully deserving the Flagship status awarded it by the Tauranga City Council. As always, showcasing the glorious gardens of the Bay of Plenty is our focus. To that end our garden committee has revisited previous participants and had a wonderful time finding new gardens to achieve for you that mix of perennial favourites and tantalizing discovery. I am thrilled about the ones I have viewed so far. As usual many gardens will feature artists, often with styles complementary to the gardens they grace. There will also be a myriad of art stops, and we are in the process of creating a sculpture walk in the city. Food and socializing is all part of the fun and you can anticipate plenty of culinary adventure, enough wine to warrant a dedicated driver and, this year, some very special regional evening garden parties throughout festival week. We are currently sourcing talent for our speaker series and workshops and creating events which will enhance your Festival experience. Keep an eye on this website for regular updates as we all look forward to the week of November 5-11 when we celebrate our eighth Garden and Artfest. I am already paying homage to the weather gods!! John Beech Director of Garden and Artfest 2012