Refresh of the English Flower Garden
After delighting visitors with its blooms and cottage garden charms for over thirty years, our English Flower Garden at is temporarily closing for some rejuvenation. Horticulture & Operations Manager, Gus Flower explains why this iconic space, which first opened in 1989, is due for a well-deserved refresh.
"It is asking a lot for plants to carry on that long and perform at their best," says Gus. "If you look closely, especially in winter, it looks tired and replacements are really, really needed."
The renovation will address several key areas that have reached their natural end of life or have deteriorated. The beech hedge, which looks healthy when covered in summer foliage is actually riddled with borer, says Gus. Several mature birch trees will be replaced as they struggle in Hamilton's climate, which is significantly more humid than their native European or American habitats.
"Lichen smothers buds and new growth, and once the trees are weakened, it's not something you can correct very easily," he says.
The lawn area will undergo extensive work, including excavation for a new drainage system before being re-laid with new turf. This will also allow the team to thoroughly assess the garden borders, dividing healthy perennials and replacing plants past their prime.
Winter was chosen as the ideal time for this renovation, allowing new plantings to be established with seasonal rainfall. The project will follow a careful sequence, starting with determining if there are any native pekapeka (long-tailed bats) roosting in any of the trees marked for removal. Hamilton is one of the few urban centres with resident bats in Aotearoa, so bat monitoring and consultation with ecologists is an important first step before any trees are removed. Turf work will follow to maximise the growing time, with hedge replacement and new plantings completing the rejuvenation.
Additional improvements will include pathway repairs and new gates, along with service upgrades throughout the garden.
Gus emphasises that this renewal is a natural part of the gardening cycle: "Nothing can last forever. This is gardening - rejuvenating and replacing is what has to happen." The renovation will also yield dividends beyond the English Flower Garden itself, as divided plants can be redistributed to enhance other areas of Hamilton Gardens.
The garden will be closed over winter and visitors can look forward to the return of a refreshed and reinvigorated English Flower Garden as spring brings new blooms to life.
