Graeme PLATT Obituary

Hello to you all in the Platt family and extended and beyond.
I first saw Graeme on an episode of Palmer's (?) Garden Show when my family lived in Plimmerton.
He was dangling from a helicopter in there, too.
Two things stand out for me from that story and I often use them in my head, day to day.
The first is that maybe, just maybe, it is the camellias and the roses that are the weeds.
Secondly, we should not be allowed to vote until we have planted at least four kauri trees in our gardens.
Or close to that.
The point was to ensure that the garden of New Zealand survives us, as none of us will be here five hundred years from now.
I now live near Melbourne and whenever I visit the botanical gardens, always stop at the NZ section and thank Graeme for opening my eyes.
Even though my garden is on this continent, it has kowhai, kawakawa, te kouka, rimu, totara, horoeka, taupata and kaka beak.
This is a personal and reciprocal attempt at balancing what the possums are up to over there.
I vote in both countries.
Thank you Graeme.
Peace to all.

I am sorry to hear of Graeme's passing. I spoke with him on the phone for well over an hour several years ago about a project I am designing in Greymouth, I had just searched his details again to give him an update and learned of his passing. I intend to plant all of the rata/pohutukawa cultivars that he discovered in a large public park project I am presently working on. I would have dearly loved to have met him in person, but the completion of this project will now be my tribute to him.
May he rest in peace and his family comforted in this time.

so sorry for your/our loss. all the times i thought, must get up to see him. damn

Dear Rosemary and family our condolences on the loss of Graeme. My name is Ross Williams and I visited you and Graeme around 20 years ago with my wife Meryll my sons Aidan,Declan and Isaac and my Mum Mary Williams nee MacDonald originally from Patea. We had a wonderful afternoon with you and Graeme listening to your entertaining and informative stories of a great life together. We still have a memory of that day as Graeme gave Declan a sheep's skull after Graeme impressed him by telling the story of the sheep coming from an isolated island.
Once again our condolences on your loss.
Kindness regards
Ross Williams and family.

Condolences Rosemary cheers from Graham Alexander

Dear Rosemary: Recently I came across your wedding photo - gosh was it really 53 years ago. There we were: you and Graeme, and Jim Le Rooy and myself as witnesses, in the lounge of the Minister at First Church. Seems like just yesterday walking down Burlington Street, and across Queens Garden to the hotel for dinner,and then joined by other hotel guests for a singsong around the piano. Such memories . . . the nursery; Graeme dangling from a helicopter gathering seeds from the top of kauri trees; the trips to China; the stone castle at Albany; the girls being born and then the grandchildren;; such a lot of special times to share over the years. And more recently the trip you made South to celebrate your 50th wedding anniversary when we had dinner at home - the four of us and my husband too. Rest in Peace Graeme and thanks for the memories.

a wonderfully intelligent man.My condolences

Please accept my condolences to Rosemary and family for this tragic loss. Graeme was one-of-a-kind with many interests - an independent thinker, an expert plantsman, and with a deep respect for the environment and humanitarian values. I will miss our long and varied phone conversations.