Glimpses through gaps, arches and other apertures make gardens special
and in the Hamilton Gardens on the Waikato River there are many such
glimpses.The gardens are large and there are wide expanses of lawn and old trees
for walking and playing, but the parts that astonish are the culturally
specific gardens leading off a central courtyard near the coffee shop.
These gardens are designed to exhibit and explain garden design from
different cultures and through the centuries and for garden enthusiasts they are worth a trip to New
Zealand to see.
From a central Romanesque courtyard with a fountain different pathways
lead to a Maori garden, an Indian Garden, an English garden, an Italian
renaissance garden, a modernist American garden, an
Italian Renaissance garden, a Chinese scholars garden and a Japanese
garden.
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| American modernist garden |
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| Indian Mogul garden |
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| Bamboo path |
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| Italian Renaissance garden |
 |
Maori garden
|
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| Japanese garden |
Then there is the herb garden, a huge season-tracking sundial ... and
I am sure other delights which I didn't quite get to see.
I shall have
to return.
