Showing images available in: United States
GAP Gardens - Homepage
x

Select Required Country

 
 

Fisherman’s Bay Garden

On the furthest reaches of the Banks peninsula, South Island, New Zealand, where the sky merges seamlessly with the sea, you will find a magical garden known as Fisherman’s Bay Garden.


Season:
Summer


Credits:
GAP Photos/Richard Bloom


Feature No:   3945 

Qty of Images:    59 

 



 
© All images subject to Copyright.
Images available for use by license only.

 
Synopsis
Perched 150 metres above the sea on a vertiginous hillside, Jill and Richard Simpson have been creating a garden of locally sourced native plants species for the last 20 years. This area of the peninsula is known locally as the ‘Wildside’. Fur seals and their pups loll on the rocks just below the gardern and penguins patrol the shoreline. The prevailing wind straight off the sea flattens the cabbage trees, Cordyline australis, and snaps Jill’s roses off at the roots. One might think that it would be too inhospitable to create a garden here, Jill and Richard were not to be deterred. Both active and keen conservationists, Jill and Richard have been instrumental in protecting and nurturing biodiversity and native birdsong on the peninsula. They reflect their passion and commitment to the local and natural landscape in their garden. The garden contains more than 150 species and cultivars of Hebe, that cover the steep hillside with bee friendly flowers ranging in colours from white, pink, lilac and purple flowers. As opposed to pruning with secateurs Jill relies on the sharp winds to cut and sculpt the Hebes into natural shapes. Elsewhere in the garden plumes of Renga Renga lilies, Arthropodium cirratum punctuate the green of the Hebes and everywhere you look you find yourself mesmerised by the continual movement of the swathes of bleached blond Cortaderia richardii, South Island Toe Toe. Far from battling with the extreme environment, Jill and Richard rejoice in the conditions they find on Banks peninsula, utilising them to dramatic and environmentally aware affect. This feature on Fisherman’s Bay garden illustrates this remote, rugged and stunning garden in all of its wild and natural beauty.

 

 

 
CONNECT WITH US            
+44 (0)1376 571283
[email protected]
Sign-Up for Newsletter
 


  © GAP Photos Ltd, All Rights Reserved