QUARRY GARDENS

Today our Parkinson walk was at the Quarry Gardens.  The last time we were due to do this walk was on 20th July when the whole of the north had been hit by a Major Weather Event. Major damage had been done and the gardens closed but lots of volunteers were busy working. I posted some photos here a couple of days later.

It was great to get back there today and, we were lucky with the weather.

An area that still needs work

This area has obviously had a lot of work on it

and this is the other side of the road where the water must have ended up

The photo below was taken sitting on a bench overlooking the lake.  I think we may well come here for a picnic over summer

I don't know what it is but I would not want this plant with all its thorns in my garden.

The big gong reminded me of my mother.  She went to an auction and decided to help the bidding along on a gong the size of the middle part of this one and we ended up taking it home.  I don't know what happened to it.  Doug had to have a go on this one.

I loved the different textures and colours in these three trees.

I don't know what the plant below is but loved its shape

and, finally, some lovely lavender plants in the perfume garden.

We had one short shower but apart from that it was lovely sunshine and I really enjoyed the walk.  

QUARRY GARDENS AGAIN

Today's Parkinson walk was back to the Quarry Gardens.

There were several new signs, this one showing the making of the lake.

We had an enjoyable walk followed by the usual refreshment stop.  Unfortunately, our leader who started the walking group about 8 years ago had been in hospital and was not with us for this walk.

After a spell of dry weather we have much needed rain forecast for tomorrow.  I have enjoyed being out in the garden over the weekend having been given the all clear by the ophthalmologist.

QUARRY GARDENS

The Quarry Gardens is a subtropical garden in an old quarry created by volunteers.  It is where we went for our weekly Parkinson's walk this morning.  Doug stayed home as his neck is still very sore. One can walk around the gardens themselves or up the hill and I went with the smaller group who tackled the hill.

There was fog in the morning at home which had cleared but as I drove the short distance to the Gardens it got thicker but quickly dispersed to leave a lovely sunny day.

There was work going on at the top of the carpark so instead of going across the bridge I was able to photograph it and the gardens behind.  Going up the hill I didn't get to walk through the actual gardens.

Before we went up we saw the new sculpture by Chris Booth

 Whangarei Quarry Gardens was generously gifted funds by a local philanthropist to go towards a permanent sculpture for the gardens.

Gardens manager David McDermott said the sculpture represented a new chapter in the gardens' story, one which staff, trustees and volunteers were excited about.

"The impressive scale, considered materiality and symbolic kaupapa of this work aligns beautifully with the gardens' aesthetic and vision. We wholeheartedly thank the donor for her generosity. We also thank Chris and Rata for sharing their passion and craft while on the site at the gardens," McDermott said. 

Booth said the piece was fifth in a global series of Varder living sculptures. Varder is an old Nordic word for cairn.

Varder I and Varder II were built in Denmark in 1998, 20 years ago, and are still being consumed by the greatest recycler, fungi, as planned.

Varder I had moved only about one metre in that time.

Varder III and Varder IV are in the Netherlands, III is 14 years old and IV is 2 years old.

We got high up quite quickly.  Our cars look small looking down.