Welcome to Richmond Garden, Carterton, Wairarapa, New Zealand.
Richmond Garden is the result of a vision by John & Melanie Greenwood to create a formal garden, a place to enjoy peace and tranquility. They had both been impressed by the 16th and 17th century gardens in Italy and had observed that their tranquility was achieved through the repetition of planting themes, straight lines, water and symmetry.
Melanie designed the garden not only to be viewed from the house, room by room, and from an upstairs terrace, but also to entice you to walk and explore. In the past, people entertained themselves within the confines of home and garden. This was John & Melanie's aim - to make a space they didn't feel the need to leave.
The Richmond property was bought in 1993. The most important things the property had to offer were its flat site, the availability of water, and the large area of north-facing land. Formal gardens must be sited on the north face so that hedging grows evenly all around. To achieve a clear palette, numerous mature macrocarpa trees were removed and the drive was re-directed.
Melanie designed the garden soon after the property was purchased and the design has been implemented project by project with very little divergence since.
The garden achieves its harmony and continuity through the repetition of a few predominant species. European beech - copper and green - is used extensively for hedging and forest trees. Hornbeam is hedged and pleached as well as linden limes, which are also used as forest trees. Buxus Sempervirens is used extensively and pulls the garden design together in the form of hedging and topiary.
Each garden room on the south side of the house is unique. This is the whimsical area of the garden and is designed to make people smile.
Richmond Garden is unique in New Zealand and captures many moods through twelve months of the year. The garden is open for public viewing on two occasions each year - the first Saturday in November and the last Saturday in April. Visiting time is between 10:00am and 4:00pm.