When I started gardening I had no interest in ornamental plants. It was vegetables, fruit, herbs or the highway as far as I was concerned. Then we moved to Wild Estate, where there were not only a tonne of weeds, sick trees and endless ivy but a few ornamental plants that I have come to love. I now swallow up pictures of beautiful ornamental gardens and refer to them often for inspiration, mostly in an effort to figure out what to plant when the weeds are finally beaten back where they belong.
Garden Tours: A Visitor’s Guide to 50 Top New Zealand Gardens is all about ornamental gardens, and I like to flick through it for inspiration now and then, not only about the plants but about the shapes and landscaping people have used.
Image: Tupare, New Plymouth
I do like visiting Botanic Gardens – the one in Christchurch is my favourite. I spent a lovely afternoon with my father and the Trusty Assistant when he was just eight months old, sitting by the river, watching the baby ducks and marvelling at the “springness” of the daffodils and blossoms. A couple of years later, we took my mother to the Curator’s House for a birthday lunch, and discovered the fantastic kitchen garden there. I’m happy to report that the restaurant will be opening again next month after earthquake repairs and strengthening are completed.
Image: Tupare, New Plymouth
I think it’s not really a case of touring a garden, but rather being in the garden that I like. Of course, there are gardens I would like to visit for inspiration, the really famous ones like Sissinghurst, or Ryton Gardens, or Thomas Jefferson’s hangout at Monticello. And there are a few in this book that I would love to have a wander around. I like the way the hard landscaping and buildings at Tupare in the photos above work together.
Image: Wellington Botanic Garden
I can imagine that if I were doing a road trip this summer, this book would be one of the ones that sat in the back seat to be checked to see if there are any tourable gardens wherever we happen to be heading. I can see Joe rolling his eyes now, and Trusty perhaps tugging on my arm telling me he wants to go for an ice cream just as we set foot through the gate.
We have two copies of this book to give away. Just leave a comment below or ‘like’ Woman vs Wild on Facebook, and tell me if visiting gardens sounds like a good day out las it does to me, or like watching paint dry as it does to Joe and Trusty.
Photos reproduced with permission: Garden Tours: A Visitor’s Guide to 50 Top New Zealand Garden by Michelle Hickman. Photography by Steven Wooster. (Random House New Zealand)
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Every year I look forward to the Taranaki Rhodo festival. I always take a day off work, grab my sister or a like minded friend and set off for the day. I always get so inspired, even though most of its not very practical for my 1/4 acre!! This year Lynda Hallinan is a guest speaker so have put that on the calendar as well 🙂
We are lucky up here too that our regional council often holds workshops at Tupare/Hollard gardens/Pukeiti so you can mix a bit of inspriation with practical knowledge. Bliss!!
I used to think garden tours were like watching paint dry until I started going on tours with a great gardening friend. We would go to all the gardens around Dunedin and I thoroughly love them especially as there are usually cheap plants at most of the houses and lots of inspiration.
visiting the gardens sounds lovely and inspirational. i too only wanted a edible functional garden but now a year later can’t get enough flowers and constantly find myself looking at others gardens for ideas.
I love looking at other peoples gardens for inspiration. My own neighbourhood is most often the best as then I know what grows well in my area. Plus some of my neigbours have awesome vege gardens.
LOVE gardens tours! The Ohoka Tour last year was wonderful, pity they don’t do it every year. The only trouble is what car to take – almost need a van to take Mum, Mother-in-law, Grandma and Nana, especially if we’re going to be bringing goodies home with us!
I’ve been going to the Waikanae Lion’s Foundation annual garden walk the last few years and was surprised at how much I enjoyed seeing all the lovely gardens. The only downside is they are all so amazing and I just do not have the time to dedicate to anything in that league!
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