Garden Photo of the Day

Lynne’s Garden in New Zealand

Favorites of a windy garden

pink vireya rhododendrons

My name is Lynne Leslie, and I live on a hill (although my garden is on flat ground) in Wellington, New Zealand, which is termed the windiest city in the world, and for good reason. I have lived here for 43 years, taking on a new section consisting of rock, clay, and more rock! Thanks to masses of compost, hedging to filter the strong winds, and regular feeding, I am able to grow most things, although maples are out of the question.

large bushes surrounding walkway My Cornus contraversa ‘Variegata’ (Zones 5–8) in the courtyard is my pride and joy. It tolerates the wind but had a real struggle when first planted. This garden is edged with Buxus (Zones 5–9), mostly cutting grown, but sadly it has developed buxus blight, so I am now reluctantly treating it with spray and also seaweed fertilizer. Now it is fingers crossed and wait and see!

Clematis growing up the gazebo My clematis grows up the gazebo and provides lovely purple blooms for months. It looks lovely combined with the rose ‘Westerland’, which has flowers of a lovely bright orange color.

up close or orange and pink tone LiliesLilies (Lilium hybrid, Zones 4–9) are favorites, and I plant another one every year to remember my late mother, as they were her favorites too.

up close of pink vireya rhododendronsI have 13 vireya rhododendrons (Rhododendron section Vireya, Zones 10–12) growing in pots on the shady south-facing path. They are so easy to grow, and they provide color off and on all year.

beautiful cream TecomantheThe cream flower is a New Zealand native climber called Tecomanthe (Zones 9–11). It is extremely hardy and grows very quickly, so I am always giving it a little tweak to let it know who is the boss in this garden.

roses growing behind the gazeboI have many roses, but they struggle with the high winds during spring, and I always find canes lying on the ground after a storm.

David Austin rosesThe David Austin roses appear to be more successful in my garden.

rose trees growing near a pathwayRoses trained as standards make a beautiful display.

purple Canterbury bells I do love blue in the garden, and Canterbury bells (Campanula medium, Zones 4–10) always make a yearly appearance.

purple thalictrum combines so well with the daisies.This purple thalictrum (perhaps Thalictrum delavayi, Zones 4–7 or a similar species) combines so well with the daisies.

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Comments

  1. User avater
    treasuresmom 02/01/2022

    Love seeing gardens from other countries.

  2. PattyLouise 02/01/2022

    Beautiful gardens! Thanks for sharing!

  3. gardendevas 02/01/2022

    Lush and gorgeous! Thank you for sharing your photos and details.

  4. User avater
    user-7007816 02/01/2022

    Your garden brought back fond memories of our visit to New Zealand a few years ago. Beautiful garden!

  5. busybee4 02/01/2022

    Beautiful garden! Hope to see New Zealand when it's safe to travel!

  6. cheryl_c 02/01/2022

    Lovely flowers, lovely garden, and a delightful commentary to accompany them! Thanks so much for such a cheerful start to the day!

  7. User avater
    simplesue 02/01/2022

    Oh your roses are amazing!!!!
    I think you need to come to Pittsburgh to help my poor David Austin Rose Munstead Wood to look as happy as yours do!
    A gorgeous garden...Love the purple flowers in the photo with your Cornus contraversa ‘Variegata’.
    Is it a butterfly bush?

  8. wildthyme 02/01/2022

    I had no idea it was so windy there! It looks like you've mastered the maxim "bloom where you're planted."

  9. btucker9675 02/01/2022

    You've created a glorious, colorful garden - thank you for sharing!

  10. sheila_schultz 02/01/2022

    To see your gardens reminds me why I so want to travel to New Zealand and Australia. Your part of our wonderful world was on our plans pre-covid. Fingers crossed!!!
    Your plantings make my eyes and gardening mind shine since I have moved to a low desert area. Just beautiful! Thank you!

  11. User avater
    vanhatalosuomi 02/03/2022

    Thanks, Lynne, for sharing your garden. The colors are some of my favorites, especially the apricot/peachy lilies.
    Greetings from Finland!

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