Flower beds appear in growing mystery

ACTION GROUP: Members of the Featherston Guerrilla Gardeners, staying anonymous, hoist their tools and plants in the dusk light.

Yesterday's dawn revealed the results of a clandestine after-dark raid on a Featherston vacant lot - freshly planted flower beds surrounding a tall windsock.

On Tuesday night the Times-Age was invited to meet a group calling themselves the "Featherston Guerrilla Gardeners" after a promise of confidentiality.

One woman, code-named "Pansy", said the planting on the Trust House-owned vacant land by the skatepark was to recognise yesterday's World Seed Day.

While "Jasmine" struggled with the stony ground, "Petunia" was assigned as lookout.

Another planter, initially code-named "Honeysuckle", changed her mind and wanted to be called "Poison Ivy", prompting a debate over whether a Batman villain's name was appropriate.

Pansy said Jasmine had also brought a bucket of pumpkin seeds, and a climber.

"The reason we chose this spot, we think that since the building was taken down, it's an eyesore for Featherston."

She said people needed to appreciate the value of seeds.

"Hopefully these will grow."