33 Nelson’s historic gardens

TESS JAINE

Roses at the Queen's Gardens.

Nelson’s historic gardens

The late poet and artist, Minnie Aumônier, wrote, “When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden”. Some of Nelson’s early settlers must have believed the same because, thanks to their efforts, the region has a rich heritage of public gardens that continue to provide solace and beauty in the heart of our communities today.

Words: Adrienne Matthews

We often take these special jewels in our local crown for granted and it can be a revelation taking time out to explore them.

There are few more tranquil places than the 1.7 hectare Queen’s Gardens, set around an offshoot of the Maitai River, once called the Eel Pond, that was a source of kai for local Tangata whenua. In the early days of Nelson’s settlement it became an important central recreational area used for numerous public activities such as military parades, fly fishing, exercise, “promenading” and was also where the Acclimatisation Society introduced many fish and bird species. In 1887 the decision was taken to develop it as a public garden in honour of Queen Victoria’s fifty year jubilee. Several decades of work followed to establish the basis of the garden we enjoy today with more than 170 trees and shrubs planted on New Zealand’s first Arbour Day in 1892. These included, amongst others, a mixture of exotic and rare indigenous trees such as Nikau palms, Cabbage trees, Magnolias, Rhododendrons and Azaleas. These large specimen trees now provide a glorious canopy below which intense under planting of flowers and shrubs add to a rich tapestry of texture and colour.

The character of the garden changes with the seasons and needs to be visited at different times of the year to truly be appreciated. In spring the vibrant orange clivias dazzle then the Roses and Hellebores begin their show. Other first-rate performances come from banks of wellloved perennials, purple Scabiosa, golden Alstroemeria, Centaurea, Hydrangeas and Abutilons. There are persimmon coloured Lilies specked with burgundy, heritage Geraniums, Hollyhocks and Hostas. Bird of Paradise, swathes of Renga Renga lilies and even some shocking pink Epiphyllum add to the mix. Waterlilies decorate the waterways and the creamy dogwoods shimmer on the banks.

As summer builds the leafy abundance of the tree canopy with all its great diversity becomes a haven from the heat. Pathways through the ferns bring a cooling respite, a place to meet friends and enjoy a picnic. With so many perennials on display, the gardens retain their beauty throughout autumn and winter. These months are a time to appreciate the play of light on water and the diversity of textures. The addition in 2007 of the sister-city Huangshi Chinese Garden on the eastern side provides a quiet, contemplative space that should not be missed. As such an important part of Nelson’s heritage, the Queens Gardens are managed according to a conservation plan to maintain their historical characteristics.

TESS JAINE

ABOVE: The Cupid Fountain at the Queen's Gardens was installed in 1894 by stonemason Johann Belcher who imported the mould, with its four lions' heads for £312. ABOVE RIGHT: The Queen's Gardens is a happy home for a number of hungry geese.

Samuel’s Rose Garden at Broadgreen

If the Great Depression of the 1930s hadn’t occurred, Nelson may well not have ever had its popular rose garden at Broadgreen. Jim Samuels has just completed his apprenticeship as a nurseryman in Ashburton when the Great Depression hit. With work drying up he travelled to Nelson, keen to secure any seasonal horticultural jobs available. Multi-skilled and eager to try anything, he set up the Nelson Pie Cart in 1935, meeting his wife-to-be, Rima, soon after. Together they ran the family business for another twentythree years but, despite his busy life, Jim’s love of plants had never left him. The couple’s home collection of roses gradually took over their garden and in the mid-1950s they leased land in Stoke to raise more plants in the hope that it might become a commercial operation. Not only did it flourish but they went on to achieve the status as New Zealand’s premier rose growers, even winning awards for their blooms across the Tasman.

Due to the Nelson City Council requiring the land for a motorway, the Samuels closed the nursery in 1967. Fortunately however the council purchased the historic Broadgreen property in 1965 (then called Langbein House after its then owners) with plans to create a public garden around it. Many people supported the idea of a rose garden and the Samuels donated all their rootstock and bud wood to help establish it. The rose garden today flourishes under the care of Nelmac and the Nelson Rose Society who assist with pruning. As an historical garden, the original varieties are retained wherever possible, many of them lasting over twenty years. Deadheading is a major task during the busy flowering season and an early season pruning is carried out during humid weather to assist with the ongoing health of the plants. With around 3000 roses and 560 named varieties, including a section of old-fashioned ones, there are plenty of blooms to admire during spring and summer, including ‘Rima’, a salmon pink hybrid tea grown by Jim Samuels, and named after his wife.

ADRIENNE MATTHEWS

ADRIENNE MATTHEWS

Isel Park is famous for its Rhododendrons and Azaleas, with blooms from late winter to early summer.

Isel Park

An hour spent in Isel Park is true refreshment for the soul. With its towering historic trees that provide shelter from prevailing breezes, its wide lawns for picnicking in front of the historic homestead and it’s wandering garden trails, it provides opportunities for recreation to all ages. Early settlers Thomas and Mary Marsden arrived in Nelson from north-west England in 1842. A watchmaker and jeweller by trade, the couple lived in Nelson before moving out to their estate in Stoke in 1847 and calling it Isel after a small town in Cumbria.

Covering four hectares, the Marsden’s quickly set to work over the next two decades and planted numerous trees on the site, many of which still stand. Following Thomas’s death, son James continued his legacy, continually adding to the garden until his passing in 1926. The house and gardens were purchased by the Nelson City Council in 1960.

Isel is a woodland English-type garden with trees planted in a random fashion allowing for surprises around every corner. The garden walks are arranged so as to appreciate their grandeur and the garden includes some of the oldest conifers and exotic trees in New Zealand, some of which are now classified as heritage trees. Species in the park include over twenty English Oaks, Monterey Cypress, a Canary Island Pine, Corsican Pines and a giant Tulip tree amongst them. Famous for its Rhododendrons and Azaleas, the park lights up with their blooms from late winter to early summer. They follow the rich yellows and blues of the spring bulbs that form carpets beneath the trees. Late spring brings towering Lilies, Dahlias, Hydrangeas, Hostas, Japanese Anemone, Liriope and an assortment of other perennials. If you are lucky you will even spot a few Dracunculus vulgaris or Stink Lily. These days Nelson’s public gardens are managed in a bioorganic way. A scientific approach is taken with the soils tested to determine exactly what the plants need. Pest and weed spraying is kept to the absolute minimum and companion planting where possible. In some places the gardeners are able to do eco-stacking, leaving branches and trees behind and chipping the timber to recycle it back into the ecosystem. It is an old-fashioned way of managing gardens that really works. These gardens are treasures in our midst and taking time out to explore them is a continuous adventure.