Gardens of the World has two amphitheatres surrounded by a gorgeous lake setting. The amphitheatres cater for large or small groups which make them ideal for garden weddings, wedding photography, birthday parties, outdoor concerts and corporate functions. The lake itself is a major feature. It has become home to quite a variety of birdlife, insects and amphibians.
There are amazing views of the lake from the New Zealand Garden, Herbaceous Garden, Oriental Garden and The Ridge Way.
Jacaranda, mimosifola
The blue jacaranda known simply as ‘jacaranda’ is a sub-tropical tree native to South America. It is very popular and widely planted because of its beautiful and long-lasting blue flowers. The blue jacaranda has been cultivated in almost every part of the world where there is no risk of frost.
The tree grows from 5 to 15 metres and has a thin bark that is grey-brown in colour; the bark is smooth when young and eventually becomes finely scaled. The twigs are slender and slightly zigzagged and a light reddish brown in colour.
The blue jacaranda flowers are up to 5cm long and are grouped in 30cm panicles; they appear in spring and early summer. The flowers last up to two months. There is even an Australian Christmas Song the flowers bloom around summer time – “When the bloom of the jacaranda tree is here Christmas time is near.”
Paper birch, betula papyrifera
Paper birch is also known as the American white birch and canoe birch. It is from a species of birch native to northern North America. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree that reaches 20m tall (exceptionally to 35m) with a trunk up to 80cm in diameter. The bark is commonly bright white colour that flakes in fine horizontal strips and often with small black marks and scars.
In trees younger than five years, the bark appears brown with white lenticels. This makes the tree much harder to distinguish from other trees. The leaves are alternate ovate, 5-12cm long and 4-9cm broad. The buds are conical and small and are green in colour with brown edges. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins, 3-8cm long growing from the tips of twigs.
The fruit matures in the autumn and is composed of numerous tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts that drop between September and spring.
Eucryphia x nymansenis – eucrymphia
Eucryphia x nymansensis is a perennial evergreen shrub with white flowers. This beautiful shrub produces masses of white flowers. The flowers are simple, four petalled, creamy coloured and look spectacular against the dark green leaves.
It can take several years before the shrub flowers, and in its early years it’s best to give the Eucryphia x nymansensis some protection from the harsh winds.
