Discerning that we liked gardens, because we were interested in their garden, Helen and Graeme suggested that we visit a large, private local garden called Maple Glen. It is about 40 km from their farm on the other side of Matuara River. I was amazed how the landscape changed from one side to the other. Near Long Acres, the land is quite flat, perfect for cows. As soon as we crossed the river the landscape became undulating with low ridges and depressions with no obvious direction or organization; still wonderful pastureland, but now much more suitable for sheep than for cows. I’m not sure how well the photo below conveys this.
On the website Maple Glen is described as: “A 25 acre private garden, nursery, aviary, woodland and wetland set in the rolling green countryside of Southland, South Island, New Zealand.” Built around their private house and commercial nursery, Maple Glen appears to be the labor of love of a single couple and now their son. When you think of this as a private garden, it is truly huge. Amazingly, given how large it already is, it seems to be still expanding into the sheep pastures that adjoin it.
Part of what makes this place so spectacular is the variety of environments that have been created. There are secluded paths lined with beautiful flower beds – keep in mind that we were here in early fall, hardly the time when most gardens are at their very best – amazing vistas, made possible by the rolling setting,
and just some drop dead gorgeous flowers.
There are woodland spaces with no flowers at all.
And running through the bottom there is a stream and series of ponds, several small ones and one larger one.
Everywhere, as we walked through this garden, there was the song of birds. Many are probably there because the garden is a hospitable place, but the owners also clearly encourage others to make this their home. For example, these pigeons and the lovebirds, shown below, have fenced areas that they can fly to for safety, but that they are also free to fly in and out of.
There were also many ducks, several varieties. Some, which think it is still bed time, blended almost perfectly with their surroundings.
To end the story of our visit to Maple Glen, I should tell you about the swans. New Zealand has a somewhat different attitude toward legal liability than we do in the US. Here, if a landowner has pointed out some danger and you still manage to get hurt by it, unless the landowner contributed by some specific gross negligence, you’re on your own. As we entered Maple Glen we noticed that there was a sign listing a variety of great dangers – slippery paths, plants that are poisonous if eaten – including swans that might bite; but nothing seemed much to worry about.
Below, see the pretty swans on the pond. On the right the swans have seen us and are swimming over quickly, probably they are used to being fed by visitors.
But no! These swans, as they charged out of the water at us, seem to have absolutely no interest in food, except perhaps if that food is a chunk of us; sorry, no picture, the photographer was otherwise engaged. It turns out that swans are quite territorial. On the right, one of the swans, having chased us about 50 yards from the pond, now turns his back and walks away, fluffing his tail feathers in clear disdain for these wimpy humans.
After leaving Maple Glen, we drove into the center of Invercargill. This is a pleasant, small city. We enjoyed Queens Park there, but I didn’t end up with any pictures worth sharing.
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