In New Zealand today is Labour Day, paradoxically, a day on which not to labour! So true to this mantra, I went with my friend Brenda to look round Little River Gardens; revealing their secrets to both to the hol polloi, like us, and also to the Canterbury gardening ellite. As a transplant myself, I have never felt I fitted in to the, descendants of the First Four Ships, club. This is not nearly as prevalent as when we originally arrived in 1976 but lurks uncomfortably just beneath the surface to be revealed if one inadvertantly scratches the skin of a Merrivale lady! To return to the gardens; they were a source of inspiration and joy. It was wonderful for so many to open their gates to us and generously share thier private havens with the masses. The photo is of Ecostay, a magical place in Okuti, where nature has been joyfully played with and artfully eaggerated. Round every tree there is a surprise, a circle of trees pruned to create a sitting space or an arbour of willows containing a bench from which to while away the view. It is heartening to see what can be done using the trees themselves: nature adapted beautifully.We do not need to spend vast quantities of money to achieve harmony, in fact I would go as far as saying the opposite is very much more likely.
