Hamilton Gardens, North Island New Zealand..

[Carmen Elsa Irarragorri Wyland]

Entrance to Hamilton Gardens made of millions of shells wired together to represent a Maori cloak..

Hamilton Gardens,New Zealand..

There was an advertisement on T V in New Zealand in the 1990s that had the headline “Don’t leave town until you’ve seen the country”. It was to encourage Kiwis to visit their own country before venturing overseas (we are surrounded by ocean down here at the bottom of the world).

Well, it seems that the world has come to New Zealand.  A week ago we visited the Hamilton Gardens in the Waikato city of Hamilton. The garden there are quite unlike most other municipal gardens in New Zealand.  Instead of the usual beds of plants and flowers laid out in the traditional English or European fashion, these gardens are set out in distinct themed country areas.

With only two weeks to go before our on trip “overseas” the visit to the gardens was timely.  We would like to share images of our visit with you.

Cloistered Courtyard with fountain

Gate to Chinese Scholars Garden

Reflections

Entry to Japanese Garden of Contemplation

Dovecote in the English Flower Garden

Marilyn (Modernist American Garden)

Indian Char Bagh Garden

Indian Char Bagh Garden

Arched Trellis walk leading to the Italian Renaissance Garden

Central dome in the Arched Trellis Walk

Italian Renaissance Garden

View to Italian Renaissance Garden

Te Parapara Maori Garden with Kumara (sweet potato) mounds

English Tudor Garden

English Tudor Garden

Hamilton Gardens