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.

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
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This entry was posted on July 21, 2013 by alphathread. It was filed under Chris Gregory, Exploration, New Zealand, Travel, Waikato and was tagged with arched trellis, char bagh, Chinese, English, Gardens of the World, Hamilton, Hamilton Gardens, Indian, Italian, italian renaissance garden, Japanese, Maori, Tudor.
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
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