17 Aug 2017 by Em
Categories: Hukawai Gardens
DAY 1 (6 Days 2 Diggers)
Diggers arrived to expand the lake and lay out the walkway in the area which will become Pierre's Lake Garden. Loosely borrowing from Monets water garden and Monet's ideas on garden design while including some iconic themes from or plants named to commemorate poetry, literature and art or their authors.
About six years ago the unlined pond was created as a work of landscape sculpture. From the Lodge terrace the eye is rapidly drawn to the ponds end, interrupted at first only by the island (a devotion to Donne) created there, followed by a sense of curves around the ponds edge and the changes in texture and height between mowed and not mowed, between the biological expression of different grass species and trees and their complimentary and contrasting colour palettes and different stages of growth, punctuated by the rock cairns gathered together to form individual sculptures within it. The unanticipated use of a birds flight path and unrehearsed grazing of stock and others, contrasting the micro- and seemingly non- movement of the landscape, detracting the eye momentarily in a way similar to the minuet adding interest to a symphony. But it is when it pours, as it is prone to in South Westland (+-6m annual rainfall) that the entire scene comes 'alive', when the eye is reduced to a mere conduit and its connection to words no longer keeps pace with the dumping of collosal amounts of sensory data because the eye is drawn everywhere simultaneously. The flow of water appears to reveal details that might have been missed inside the visual scene, outside it and within ourselves. Then it is gone. Outdoors the scene resets itself. Internally we remain changed.
Phase 2 increases the area and the capacity changing the pond into a permanent small lake (+-130m x 40m, +-1.5m deep). We are a bit later than anticipated starting so not everything will be complete by December 2017. The walking path will be in and the majority of the planting completed - weeping willows, water lillies, wisteria and a chinese bridge form the backdrop. A stand of birch an acknowledgement to Robert Frost, '10 000 daffodils' (the impression rather than the number) in recognition of Wordsworth, a small sheltered bay a nod to Keats, frogs and a wild plum added in appreciation of Teasdale. This garden will include further elements of the Chinese garden - paeonies, irises, rhododendrons, azaleas, scotch pine, magnolia, bamboo etc and be lit with lanterns during Chinese New Year. Next autumn the new border on the driveway side of the lake will be planted Keukenhof (Holland) style.
The idea of a piece of art sculptured with diggers from the landscape set into the existing vista has not changed. Its focus will spread out to include the planting design, the variety of plants, their multiple contrasts added to by their names - Morepork Mayhem, Maui Moonlight, Art Form, Yeats, Foundation van Gogh. The landscape sculptures' foundation ideas will instead find expression within the drain which feeds it.
The goal for all Hukawai Garden 'rooms' is to over time continue to refine the bones of the design while adding something new each year in celebration of a birthday and Christmas. Eventually all paths will connect to create a walk of +-2hrs return.
DAY 2 (6 Days 2 Diggers)
Main channel of lake in and walkway cut. New pond and channel connecting it to the weir built to control overflow from the lake during a deluge. Three hills, including the existing island, together represent Saignon where you will find Pierre & Kamila's wonderful B&B. Tomorrow Stage 1 of Planting Pierre's Lake Garden - the large trees begins.
The main channel of the lake joined to all its features - waterfall, island, weir, walkway.
Yellow digger cutting the walkway.
Day 3 (6 Days 2 Diggers)
Lake partially lined, waiting for new polythene. Walkway is complete. The views are fantastic over Lake Mapourika(west), a partial view to near the top of Franz Josef glacier (south west), back to Hukawai Lodge and the Southern Alps (east) and over the farm in all directions.
