Brikton

Amberley, North Canterbury

Owners:

Ursula and Brian Wright

Click images to enlarge

Address:

45 Douglas Road, Amberley

Phone:

+ 64-3-318 8771

Open:

September to autumn, daily, by appointment

Groups:

By appointment, as above

Fee:

$2 per adult

Size:

Small - 0.2ha (0.5 acres)

Terrain:

Flat

Functions:

Teas by prior arrangement only

Since 1990, Ursula has transformed a bare paddock into a flowering garden sectioned into separate rooms. She chooses reds and subtle pinks, using white, cream, gold and deep blues to harmonise with the recycled-brick house. Ursula’s favourite plants include flowering cherries, camellias and rhododendrons in spring, followed by old roses and pickable perennials in summer. She is not keen on bedding plants, preferring grouped container planting and foliage, succulents or flowers she can pick. These include the many varieties of leucadendron she is collecting that look so good against the brick. Proteas, too, feature in early spring, then drifts of spring bulbs, wild primroses and forget-me-nots provide a colourful carpet beneath the prunus and malus blossom.

Heritage roses ramble over fences and archways, with a summer house and hedges contributing structure and interest to the garden, and dividing it into rooms. Old bricks matching the house have been used to construct patios and edge the pathways that link the different areas. Native lancewoods provide height down the side of the garden and conifers are interplanted with the exotics. Autumn colour is provided by rosehips and the foliage of the cherries, crab-apples, maples and liquidambars.

Directions:

Travel to Amberley. Turn off Carters Rd (SH 1) west into Douglas St. Continue across railway line into Douglas Rd. Brikton garden on right.