Garden art NZ style

13 Nov '08 6:06 am

Yesterday I went with our local garden circle on a BUS trip.To Tauranga-Bay of Plenty,where the weather is warm and tropical.
As well as gardens open,there was an emphasis on Art and the gardens displayed art work from the owners or invited artists.
Here are a few examples of garden art-many of them quintessential Kiwi style...
the jandals are found treasures on the beach after the visitors have all gone home for the day.

13 Nov '08 6:30 am

Some more from our trip

13 Nov '08 6:49 am

I am giving this garden its own spot.It is the home of professional artists.They are specialising in reproducing photographs with paint.While we were there,the son was working on a commissioned piece-decorating a motorbike with art work.They create trompe-d-oeill(sp?) on walls.
The house is sculptural mediterranean style.The only flowers were red in pots.there was lots of greenery in the way of grape and other vines and edible plants.I really liked this place because of its consistent,and high quality of style

13 Nov '08 8:08 am

Hi Dixie,

I think the first batch of pictures are wonderful. I love the quirkyness and individuality of the different gardens especially the truck and trailer. Are those little Christmas trees in the reflection pond?

The artists' place doesn't appeal to me near as much because it looks as though they have tried to make it look like somewhere other than NZ.

Thanks for posting.

13 Nov '08 9:30 am

Waratah-you are a hundred per cent correct.I didn't want to be too critical,but there was miles and miles of houses that were all exactly the same-palm trees and spiky things with stones.There was no home that I would describe as 'cosy'.There were few roses except perhaps a few in a line.
I liked the artists place even though it is not my scene,mainly because of the artistic quality-a whole picture.
The surf city is completely different to the full,lush,and flowery style of Waikato,and Moosey's own rambling,grassy paths.
So here are a couple that are absolutely typical of the architecture,both buildings and gardens.I didn't bother to take any more as they are all the same.

14 Nov '08 1:24 am

Lots of interesting things. The photo reproductions are amazing. I love the mosaic lizard. I've had it at the back of my mind for a while to do a mosaic somewhere in the garden, I hope I can come up with something half as good. I learned a new word - jandal!

14 Nov '08 7:35 am

... all the same thing! But here in NZ a thong is a VERY skimpy pair of underwear!

Dixie, I think the first collection of gardens captured New Zealand's flavour really well. The property filled with fantastic paintings was unusual - I've never heard of this place. It is way too Mediteranean-ish for my liking but I absolutely LOVE the rill. Is that what you call it - the channel cut in the paving and stairs with water running in it? I think it's a rill. Anyway, I have been trying to work one of these into one of our gardens for a while now! That one is made very special by the lady in the water. What stops that being really tacky is that it is hand painted by someone of significant talent.

As for the stone and palm debarcle... we inherited one of those nightmares at this property! I really dislike the follow-the-leader type trends that NZ gardeners seem all too quick to emulate. And the nasty faux Tuscan nonsense that is the stone and 'strong architectural plantings' really is one of the worst! It looks dreadfully out of place in lush green surroundings. One of our largest gardens is one of those horrors - with all manner of spikey plants and THREE types of stones! We will eventually completely undo this garden and use the established plants elsewhere (when the house is extended). But in the meantime I wince whenever I see it. I have taken to sprinkling seed packets of annuals all over it in the hope some good old fashioned FLOWERS might soften it up and make it fit in with the other semi-formal traditional villa gardens. Now it looks like a garden with a mixed identity!

Anyway, that's my rant over Very Happy

Sorry to get carried away. I think I need more coffee...

17 Nov '08 8:43 am

I blame all those blokey, instant garden makeover programmes for the outbreak of spiky plants surrounded by pebbles. It's what I call static gardening, where nothing seems to move or change. I can understand people living in dry climates looking for ways of gardening with little or no water but, as Kerole said, it looks a bit out of place when surrounded by lushness.

19 Nov '08 2:37 pm

The pools with the painted, medieval ladies are something else again. Very interesting. The realistic murals there must have been fun to see too. I can't imagine including such a thing in my garden but I could enjoy very much seeing it in someone elses. The mosaic lizard was also well done.

When every house in a community has the same 'daring' plants it ceases to be daring. Odd to think of such bold plants being used essentially as mundane foundation plantings. I found it jarring at Hidcote garden in England to see a Mediterrainean style garden in soggy England even though I appreciate the style in other places.

Here are two photos from Hidcote's Mediterraineanesque garden. I understand the tall blue flowers are called Monk's Hood here and are very dependant on lots of water. The brick work under foot gives the right feeling and there is even a palm but overall the picture is just too lush to seem quite right.

20 Nov '08 6:12 am

It looks like a cottage garden to me-lots of greenery and lushness as you say.I think of Mediterranean as flowering trees and pots of geraniums.
Static garden is a good way to describe it Waratah.
My artist daughter thinks the picture reproduced in the water is a Botticelli.The artists can scan paintings or photos that big,and then they paint them on to another surface.
MacFlax-do have a go at a mosaic.They are easier than you think,as long as you get the correct glue.

Garden art NZ style

Garden art NZ style

Bay of Plenty

a special place

What a Bus Tour

cactus and all

Jandal, thong, flip-flop...

Spiky Plants and Pebbles

I would have enjoyed this trip, Dixie.

garden styles