Revel in more than fifty years of gardening splendor in this garden.

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Music by Jason Shaw at AudionautiX      

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Featured image courtesy of Flaxmere

Transcript:

Hello Garden Lovers, 

Today is January 11, and this is A Garden a Day with Mædunbroc Gardens.

During my research for today’s garden, I found one description repeated on several different sites that called it “a garden that has most things.”

That sounds kind of like an odd compliment.  Most gardens are described as lovely.  Isn’t that the word used most often?  Lovely?

So, I thought, ok, a garden that has most things. OK, I can work with that.

And then I started really looking at this garden, and I discovered this garden really does have most things.  And really is an apt compliment.

Not only is today’s garden lovely, but it really does have just about everything one could want in a garden.

Seasonal plantings for year round interest — CHECK

Water features — CHECK

Sculptures and lawn art — CHECK

Manicured areas — Check

Wild, natural areas — check

Events in the garden — check

Native plants — check

Roses — check

Natural scenery — check

Meticulous design — check

Peace and tranquility — check and check

So where are we in today’s garden?  We are in a place currently experiencing summer, and we are in a place that experiences earthquakes every single day (Seriously.  If you don’t believe me, look it up).

Today, we are exploring Flaxmere Garden in New Zealand.

Owner and creator Penny Zino began Flaxmere Garden in 1966 on a former sheep farm.  The garden spans approximately seven acres and includes several gardens within a garden.  

Mountain vistas frame this impeccable garden.

Here you will find a pleasant mix of native-to-New Zealand garden plots, wooded areas, and a formal rose garden mixed with manicured lawns, colorful borders, and boxwood hedges.

Flow is another term  I saw used again and again to describe this garden.  Your eyes are led — they flow — from one beautiful space to another in seamless fashion as you explore the garden paths.

In Spring, which is October for them, daffodils, azaleas, rhododendrons, peonies, tulips, flowering cherry, and bluebells burst forth in splendid color.

By summer, or January-ish timeframe, the roses are blooming, and the ponds are showing off with water lilies and irises.

In autumn, which is our spring, the leaves are falling, but before they do, they paint the sky with vibrant oranges, yellows, and reds.

In winter, the garden is at rest, and the structure of the garden is visible within the backdrop of the snow covered mountains.

Five ponds are located in the garden along with a spring-fed creek that runs through the property.  These water features provide an inviting habitat for bird life.

Penny Zino designed this garden with an artist’s eye, and the garden has been named a Garden of National Significance by the New Zealand Gardens Trust.

In addition to the superb plantings, Flaxmere Garden hosts Art in a Garden each October, an event to spotlight and promote New Zealand Art.  Approximately 100 artists of various mediums showcase their art in this four-day annual event.

Many public gardens offer wedding planning, as does Flaxmere, and individual and group tours are available by reservation complete with morning or afternoon tea.

There is a bonus with this garden.  Most gardens don’t let you stay the night, but you can stay onsite at Flaxmere Garden.  With a minimum of a two-night booking, you can stay in a well-appointed cottage on the grounds.  The cottage has two bedrooms that sleep up to four guests, an open kitchen/living/dining area, a private bathroom, and an outdoor seating area.

There is also a small nursery on site which provides plants for purchase.

The Flaxmere website includes a gallery of photos that will definitely get you in the mood to get outside and walk in your garden.  

Well, that’s it for our tour of Flaxmere Garden. Thank you for listening.

I want to also invite you to like, follow, or subscribe to the podcast.  This lets you know when a new episode is ready, and it lets me know you like the show.  I really do appreciate it.

Well, if all goes well, I will be right back here tomorrow.  See you then!

To learn more about Flaxmere Garden, visit the links below:

⁠https://www.flaxmeregarden.co.nz/⁠

⁠https://www.gardens.org.nz/visit/flaxmere-garden⁠

⁠https://www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/flaxmere_garden⁠

⁠https://www.chsgardens.co.nz/about/flaxmere/⁠

⁠https://visithurunui.co.nz/listings/listing/flaxmere-garden⁠

⁠https://www.moatours.co.nz/destinations/gardens/flaxmere⁠

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