Ayrlies Garden facts for kids
.jpg)
Ayrlies Garden is a stunning country garden located near Whitford. This area is southeast of Auckland on the North Island of New Zealand. Many people consider it one of New Zealand's most famous gardens. It has even been called the "perfect New Zealand garden." The New Zealand Gardens Trust gave it their highest rating, calling it a six-star garden.
Contents
Discover Ayrlies Garden!
This amazing garden now covers about 12 acres (or 4.8 hectares) of land. It has gentle hills, huge green lawns, and many ponds and streams. The garden is filled with plants in a natural, flowing style. You'll see lots of bright colors, including a special area with "hot" colors like reds and oranges.
What Grows in Ayrlies?
Some parts of the garden are home to beautiful roses, climbing clematis, and many perennial flowers. These are plants that come back year after year. Other areas are like a lush, warm jungle. They have sub-tropical plants that love heat and moisture. You might spot unique plants like Petrea, Alocasia, and bromeliads. There are also colorful vireya rhododendrons and interesting Ficus dammaropsis trees.
The garden also features many large trees. Most of these are liquid amber, swamp cypress, and pin oak trees. They have grown very quickly because the weather here is warm and wet. There are rarely frosts, and the garden gets over 50 inches (about 1.2 meters) of rain each year. You can also find small structures around the main house. One is a "sitooterie," which is a low gazebo. It's a cozy spot to sit and enjoy the amazing views. All parts of the large garden are connected by similar plants and materials. This makes the whole place feel like one big, beautiful design.
How the Garden Began
Ayrlies Garden was created by Beverly McConnell and her late husband, Malcolm. Malcolm McConnell was a co-founder of a big New Zealand engineering company. The garden is named after Malcolm's grandfather's farm in Scotland.
The garden started in 1964. That's when the McConnells moved to the land with their young family. At first, it was a 3-acre (1.2-hectare) coastal area. It was just a bare field with tough clay soil. In 1978, the garden grew to 12 acres (4.8 hectares). This expansion included adding three large ponds. From the year 2000, a huge area of 35 acres (14 hectares) below the main house was changed. It became a wetland area with an 8-acre (3.2-hectare) lake. This new area helps connect the garden to the nearby Hauraki Gulf.
Visiting Ayrlies Garden
You can visit Ayrlies Garden on weekdays. There is a small fee to enter. It's a wonderful place to explore and enjoy nature's beauty.
