Auckland Botanic Gardens

Last Sunday, after weeks of seemingly endless rain, we woke up to a lovely spring day.  It seemed too good to waste the sunshine so we went for a walk in the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

 The Gardens are just off the Hill Road, Manurewa exit on the Southern Motorway, about 20 minutes south of Auckland city centre.  Opened to the public in 1982, they cover 64 hectares of land.  There is a Visitor Centre and Cafe onsite, and the Potters Children's Garden includes many interactive features for the kids.

 There is a permanent sculpture collection amongst the gardens and along walkways.  My favourite is Splayed by Regan Gentry which is made of shovels.
Splayed (2012)
There are also some quirky pieces which you can find by wondering off the marked paths.
Kiwi-man with fish
From noon on Sundays, you can take a tour on the Wiri Rambler departing from outside the visitor centre.  There is also a plant sale on the first Sunday of the month from 9am - 2pm just past the Herb garden.  I picked up a suberb succulent for a bargain price of $5.
Superb Succulent
We wandered around the lake towards the rose gardens.  The sweet fragrance was reminiscent of the Yardley Rose perfume my mum wore when I was a child.
Lake

We ended our visit in the African Plants garden and enjoyed the proteas, fynbos, strelitzias, and the variety of aloes on show. 
Aloe


Strelitzia

 We will be visiting again soon as the Sculpture in the Gardens exhibition opens on 11 November 2017 and runs until February 2018.  Check out their website for more events at the Gardens.


There are always flowers for those who want to see them - Henri Matisse

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