Today we visited one great garden called Flaxmere. In the afternoon I visited the Christchurch Botanical Garden.

FLAXMERE

The owner, Penny Zion, explains the history of the garden:

The garden is about 7 acres on a huge farm which she owns. She does all the maintenance with a couple of helpers. Everywhere in the garden you can see vistas which she has planned over the past 56 years. This is one of the best gardens that shows how to borrow the views of the neighboring countryside except she owns all the neighboring countryside.

Since a branch of a river flows through her property she makes good use of the ponds and creeks:

Here are some panoramic views of the garden:

Swimming Pool Garden:

Pathways:

Sundial Garden:

Interesting Plants:

Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

White Allium

Deciduous Azalea

Primula japonica

Dutch Iris

Hebe cupressoides ‘Bouton Dome’

Ceanothus hearstiorum

Sunrose (Helianthemum nummularium)

Weigela florida cv.

Lupine and Euphorbia characias wulfenii

New Zealand Hair Sedge (Carex comans)

CHRISTCHURCH BOTANIC GARDENS

The botanical gardens are located along the Avon River which gives the garden a very pastoral feeling:

These gardens have many huge trees over 100 years old that provide a lot of shade:

Elm (Ulmus minor)

Linden (Tilia europaea)

Eucalyptus delegatensis

Walnut (Juglans hindsii)

Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpus)

Rose Garden:

Rock Garden:

Conservatory:

Water Features:

Interesting Plants:

Eastern Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana)

Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis)

Chionochloa flavicans

Karo (Pittosporum crassifolium)

Japanese Iris (Iris ensata)

Herbaceous Borders

Walk on the way back to the hotel:

Tomorrow – Akaroa – 3 gardens