It’s early Saturday morning and I am checking my phone. The message reads “….I am determined to go…”. I check the weather forecast and gloomy rain clouds are still present. I had secretly hoped it would have shifted to a glowing sun by now but no, it’s still gonna rain. We agree to meet regardless and I surrender to the idea that it will be what it will be. The gardens, Maple glen gardens, just outside of Wyndham, are about an hours drive from where we are staying in the Catlins. We have taken a few days off work and have brought big dog, the OG Atlas with us whilst the other two pups burn off some steam at the kennels. As we drive to the gardens the clouds lifts and thickens with no set pattern. It rains then falls into a mist which then disappears only to return to rain & mist minutes later. We arrive and met and the grey clouds hold. I divert everyone from the nursery, “Let’s visit the garden first just in case it rains”. So we head off to wander the 100 acres garden (yes you read me right) and the rain did as I asked and held off and it was magical.
I mentioned in my Instgram post when I did a quick “I really must share some of these photos with someone” that this garden was the place of spring and it was. Not spring referencing a splash of blossom or the odd bulb here or there but mass plantings that involved hillsides of daffodils and small forests of bluebells seeking shelter under lofty trees. There was an avenue of blossoms which was simply magical to stand under and listen to the contended drone of bumblebees while tuis sang. A number of ponds created a journey round the garden. Walking around it felt like minutes had passed when really you had lost an hour or two. I was amazed at how the vistas worked. The garden design meant that one step one way created a vista that changed into something else after a few paces on. We wandered losing each other and then finding each other, only to head off into different directions, circling back to each other minutes later. Our tour guide was a piwakawaka that danced around us we moved through the garden. The magnolias were just starting to flower along with some beautiful rhodies that were the perfect shades. I could see that in later season that Hydrangeas would be the stars of the garden.
I marveled at how a simple palette of a few plants as a background would shift in nature by adding in a different plant. For example masses of daffodils and white hellebores that had the accent of bluebells which as you walked around the garden moved to deep purple trilliums. I was super inspired by woodland type plants and I have a spot in the bottom of the garden where I purchased a number of treasures (anemones, bleeding hearts) from their nursery (they are online). I found the magical layering of shrubs inspiring and loved how pruning gives shape and direct for the eye to follow. It was all so peaceful and such a lovely space to be in. Enough from me- I shall let the photos do the talking.
