Making sense of my photography hobby in retirement

Gardens of the World

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.

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Cloistered Courtyard with fountain

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Gate to Chinese Scholars Garden

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Reflections

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Entry to Japanese Garden of Contemplation

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Dovecote in the English Flower Garden

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Marilyn (Modernist American Garden)

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Indian Char Bagh Garden

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Indian Char Bagh Garden

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Arched Trellis walk leading to the Italian Renaissance Garden

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Central dome in the Arched Trellis Walk

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Italian Renaissance Garden

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

View to Italian Renaissance Garden

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

Te Parapara Maori Garden with Kumara (sweet potato) mounds

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

English Tudor Garden

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand, Copyright Chris Gregory 2013

English Tudor Garden

4 responses

  1. Lovely Chris! I especially like the sweet potato mounds. Had no idea they looked like that!

    July 21, 2013 at 12:52 am

    • Thanks Tina. This was a bit of a surprise to me as well. I knew they were grown in mounds of earth, but I think that the evenness of the pattern shown here is a bit of gardener’s licence, but maybe its just my scepticism showing through!

      July 21, 2013 at 12:57 am

  2. Amy Johnston Bray

    Hi Chris,
    may I please use your kumara garden photo for a small display on Maori Horticulture at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens?

    April 30, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    • Hi Amy

      How big an image do you require? I have a restricted use consent form that I get users to sign before releasing images for use. Please call me on 021 489 424 if you wish to proceed.

      Regards

      Chris Gregory

      April 30, 2015 at 3:32 pm

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