Recently, I’ve embarked on a month-long adventure around New Zealand and am looking forward to visiting some of the country’s extraordinary gardens. It is always a thrill to head off from home with hopes and dreams after all the planning that goes into travel. The bucket list of what we hope to do and see is keenly awaited. However, the aspect of travel I like the most is the sharing of unexpected experiences that forge new friendships, and often, the trip is better than hoped for because of finding newfound friends.
Travel empties out everything you’ve put into the box called your life, all the things you accumulate to tell you who you are”
Claire Fontaine
The past gardening season has been a disappointment, although it was all my own doing as I chose to be away for most of the summer. So, I am looking forward to gaining inspiration from the gardens in New Zealand and Tasmania. So far, rhododendrons have been the highlight of the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden in Burnie, Tasmania.
Myron S Kaufman
“Watching something grow is good for morale. It helps us believe in life.”
March is not the best time of year to view Rhododendrons. The better time is from mid-September to mid-November, although a few specimens were out in bloom on my walks through the garden. The garden was established on a natural amphitheatre of volcanic soil surrounding several ponds said to be inhabited by Platypus. The volunteers at the garden were eager to offer information and tell stories about their beautiful area, and they were proud of what had been achieved since the garden’s conception in 1981.
“Our vision is to be a world recognised woodland garden
showcasing and protecting the Rhododendron Genus”
“It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realise the world to be.”
Anthony Bourdain
The next port of call in my garden quest in New Zealand is to the grounds of Lanarch Castle in Dunedin, formerly New Zealand’s capital. The house is a spectacular example of the master craftsmanship of the Victorian era, where, except for the verandah, there are no nails in the entire house. The house sits on the top of the ridge of the Otago Peninsula with views over the harbour. It took fifteen years to build, and the castle ceiling in the drawing room took six years alone to carve the intricate pattern.
Lanarch Castle was built in 1871 by William Larnach, who was a businessman, merchant banker and later, a politician; the gardens originally were not an aspect of the Lanarch home but have gained significance over time and awarded “Garden of International Significance” status by the New Zealand Gardens Trust. This is primarily due to the new owners of the Castle, the Barker family.
Margaret Barker’s work as a passionate plantswoman and author spans over forty years at the Castle. Although she no longer resides there. The garden yesterday was colourful and exciting in early March, highlighting hedges, perennials, Scottish heathers, sculptures, nooks and rockeries, views, gazebos arbours, and majestic trees.
“You have to get to understand your own place. The climate here is a mixture of maritime and alpine. It took me 10 years to understand what would grow and there were a heck of a lot of things I had to chuck out.“
Margaret Barker
This is an excerpt from her book “My Home My Castle”
“In 1967 we purchased Larnach Castle and its 35 acres of grounds in order to ensure their survival. Enveloping second growth in the abandoned garden came right up to the Castle walls. Clearing and felling opened wonderful vistas, and today, our ‘new’ garden continues to be developed within the original framework of paths, hedges and trees. Spring brings jewel-like flowers to the rock garden and splendid displays of rhododendrons and azaleas. Herbaceous plantings peak in summer, followed by Scottish Heathers in autumn. Special collections of Southern Hemisphere plants grow in size and diversity in our South Seas Garden.”
Margaret Barker
A garden must combine the poetic and the mysterious with a feeling of serenity and joy.”
Luis Barragan
Since my short visit to Lanarch Castle and Garden yesterday, I found some encouraging garden tips that rang true to me from Margaret Barker
- Gardening is trial and error. And if something doesn’t work you just get rid of it. That’s the way you learn.
- Have the courage to do what you like and do not be afraid of your own ideas. You don’t need to copy other gardens,
- Look out for a local source of rich compost to spread on the garden. Chook and animal blood and bone for example.
The Lanarch Castle Garden is at an altitude of 300 metres and features spectacular scenery across the picturesque countryside and harbour. However, it is a windy site with low rainfall, so given the extremes of temperature and the salt air, the collection of plants is remarkable. Some are remnants from the original plantings, from 120 years ago. It was a treat to see the Autumn grasses out and the late blooming perennials.
“I plant a lot of trees. I am a great believer in planting things for future generations. I loathe the now culture where you just live for today.”
Penelope Keith
Full bloom at the Anderson Rose Garden Timaru courtesy of Help Me Find
Unfortunately, as is the nature of the weather, we had incessant rain on our trip to Timaru so the Anderson Rose Garden had to be abandoned. This rose garden is a newish garden opened in 2002 as part of the Timaru Botanical Gardens. The roses are planted in concentric circles around a central fountain with a buxus hedge border. The garden is named after Mr Walter Anderson an author and member of the Botanists’ Hall of Fame.
I look upon the pleasure we take in a garden as one of the most innocent delights in life.”
Cicero
And now we sail towards Marlborough, New Zealand, on the northeastern tip of the South Island. Needless to say, it is a well-known winemaking area with pristine waterways, islands, and peninsulas awaiting us. Until next time enjoy Autumn in the garden.
Images Di Baker unless cited otherwise
Content Di Baker 2024
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