Middle Garden Tour

Middle Garden is an undisciplined riot of plantings, from Pittosporums and Rhododendrons to a free spirited Golden Hop which was intended to only cover a tree stump. Oops. Daffodils, pansies, lupins and euphorbias edge the paths, squashed in between large Phormiums (flaxes) and Cordylines.

Eek! It sounds just like all the other parts of my garden! So what's different? The water flowing in the irrigation race, for one, along which Middle Garden is planted. And the giant Gunnera which self-seeded along the bank (honestly, it did - I innocently welcomed all the little seedlings).

And I've just realised - there are no roses. My goodness, this much be a first! Surely I could find space for a few... I hope you enjoy visiting this ever-changing part of the garden.

Introducing Middle GardenIntroducing Middle Garden...
Middle Garden, one of my waterside gardens, was started in 1999 when the rows of huge trees across the water race were felled. I worked around the resulting stumps, as well as the existing species Phormium tenax flaxes and Viburnums. Naturally it kept expanding - dug out a little more here, a bit further there...
New ShrubsNew Shrubs...
My plantsman friend and I used to have a good thing going. I'd cook him roast dinners, he'd give me plants - sometimes his rejects, sometimes unusual shrubs he thinks I'd like. Some of them live in Middle Garden.
Middle Garden RhododendronsMiddle Garden Rhododendrons...
In spring Middle Garden is at its most colourful, and the rhododendrons are just too big to ignore. A majestic pink beauty by the path is my spring signal that pink things will be soon appearing all over the garden.
Middle GardenMiddle Garden's Green Cordylines...
Basic green species Cordylines are favourites with me, though many New Zealand gardeners wouldn't agree. Cordylines are forever messy, shedding their old leaves. And they do need space to grow. The fibrous trunks are particularly popular with my gardening cats. I wonder why?
Shrubs and SpikesShrubs and Spikes...
Spikes of Cordylines and New Zealand Phormiums combine with rhododendrons to give Middle Garden its essential look. It's a classic mixture for a New Zealand country garden. These photographs track the growth of its shrubs from the year 2002 to 2012.
Garden Bench on Duck LawnGarden Bench on Duck Lawn...
Garden benches are important in my garden - they're comfortable, stop me in my gardening tracks, and get me sitting and relaxing. For my spring birthday of 2010 Non-Gardening Partner fixed up a bargain ten dollar garden bench and helped me place it on the edge of Duck Lawn, with THE perfect view of the Cordylines in Middle Garden.
Spiraea ShrubSpiraea Shrub...
The shrubs in Middle Garden are a mixture of the distinguished and the ho-hum. Filling a garden with rhododendrons and artistic spiky shrubs is all very well - but what about something a little more quirky and interesting? Like a Spiraea?
Yellow IrisesYellow Irises...
I planted some bags of water-loving Irises in Middle Garden some years ago. But I placed them too close to the Gunnera, and they became completely shaded out by the huge Gunnera leaves.
Phormium (Flax) FlowersPhormium (Flax) Flowers...
New Zealand flaxes (Phormiums) grow along the water's edge in Middle Garden, and in summer they flower spectacularly.
Paths in Middle GardenPaths in Middle Garden...
Middle Garden has a small network of paths running through it. The main path, called Middle Path, forms part of a well-trodden route from the house through to the Hazelnut Orchard. It crosses the water at Middle Bridge, and pushes carefully past a beautifully huge pink rhododendron.
Water Bridge FernsWater Bridge Ferns...
The ferns by Middle Bridge grow happily at the water's edge, and mark the start of the path through Middle Garden. I wonder how many tired gardener's footsteps this bridge has experienced in its short life?
Spring Garden IrisSpring Garden Iris...
I love irises, and tend to pop them into many of the garden borders. At the back of Middle Garden is a particularly lovely two-tone iris, which grows just in front of the big Crambe perennial.
Cats on Middle BridgeCats on Middle Bridge...
The Moosey cats use Middle Bridge a lot, either when on gardening duties (following the Head Gardener) or when they need a drink of water from the water race.
WaterWater's Edge Gunnera...
Some Gunnera seedlings have made their home in Middle Garden by the water's edge. How cute they were when small - and they'd done all the planning and planting for me! And such stylish waterside plants, too. Oops... From little seedlings mighty Gunnera do grow.
Duck Lawn ShrubsDuck Lawn Shrubs...
Duck Lawn separates Middle Garden from the Hen-House Gardens, and a narrow border along the edge of the water race joins the two gardens. In the early days of my garden I filled it with Hebes, a large green Astelia, and two beautiful white flowering Cistus shrubs.
Weeping Crab-Apple TreeWeeping Crab-Apple Tree...
Gardeners like to choose new trees which will behave in the garden - that is, not grow too big - as well as providing features for different seasons. Crab-Apple trees are one of my top choices.
Orange NasturtiumsOrange Nasturtiums...
Go, you lovely orange things! They may be humble, but orange common-garden Nasturtiums are brilliant for a patch of bright, bilious colour. They are a great contrast with a neatly mown, lush green lawn...
Magnolia StellataMagnolia Stellata...
In the middle of spring my one Magnolia Stellata comes into flower. This small tree is a beauty, and its clear white flowers shine above the neighbouring pittosporums and flaxes in Middle Garden.
Red Flax and FernRed Flax and Fern...
What a beautiful colour combination this is - the red of the small weeping flax, and the clear mid-green of the water-side fern. These two foliage plants sit together at the beginning of the path through Middle Garden.
Water Garden BridgeWater Garden Bridge...
Over the years I've taken lots of photographs of Middle Bridge standing on the back lawn. In the early days everything was clearly visible - the paths, ferns, trees and flaxes (Phormiums). And, of course, the cool running water.
Red Cordylines in Middle GardenRed Cordylines in Middle Garden...
Red Cordylines are beautifully coloured foliage shrubs, even if the hybrids in my garden are more of a dark wine-purple in colour. Middle Garden has a trio of them, surrounded by Phormiums and Viburnum tinus shrubs.
Tree Stump Garden CatTree Stump Garden Cat...
Sifter the cat used to fit well on the tree stump at Middle Garden's edge. This is definitely a photograph from the Archives - there are no uncovered stumps in this garden any more!
Spring BluesSpring Blues...
These delightful blue pansies fill in all the spaces in the spring Middle Garden. When they've flowered I pull them out and cut them up for mulch. They'll sow their own seedlings, and so I'll have yet more blue pansies to enjoy.
Libertia New Zealand NativeLibertia New Zealand Native...
Here is a close-up of the rusty orange Libertia, native to New Zealand. It's a great landscaping plant. Originally it was only seen in council roadside plantings, but recently the glossy magazines have discovered it. Hmm...
The Head Gardener GardeningThe Head Gardener Gardening...
What's that saying? Don't use your back as a crane? Gardeners know that they shouldn't bend over like this, but often the rules get broken.
Middle Garden PlantingsMiddle Garden Plantings...
Middle Garden has always been a messy, busy garden, crammed full of foliage shrubs and flowers. The garden was originally dug around existing Pittosporums and Viburnums. Nothing ever stays the same for long in the middle of Middle Garden!
Golden HopGolden Hop...
Several large tree stumps were left in Middle Border, and my plan was to disguise the biggest with suitable plantings. I selected a Golden Hop, which behaved well for the first year. It is now showing its grosser intentions, but I still love it.
Phormium Tricolor & PittosporumPhormium Tricolor & Pittosporum...
Middle Garden's earliest plantings included Pittosporums with variegated leaves surrounding a striped Phormium (flax) called Tricolor. Pittosporums are shrub-trees, easily pruned if their growth needs restricting.
PseudopanaxPseudopanax...
Evergreen native shrubs are popular in New Zealand gardens, where the climate is supposed to be moderate, mild, and moist. In Middle Garden you'll find lots of self-sown Pseudopanax, which I call Five Fingers, for obvious reasons.
Middle Garden - Early YearsMiddle Garden - Early Years...
In the early years Middle Garden was a very open and sunny space. It quickly became a rather lovely mess of flowers and small shrubs - as seen in my archive photographs.
Orange DahliaOrange Dahlia...
The soft orange dahlia in these photographs was originally dumped in Middle Garden to fill a gap. The early garden was sunny, and certainly had lots of wide open spaces. It's one of my favourite dahlias, and is given the honour of being the only dahlia allowed to grow here.
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