Tropical Gardens to Be Unveiled at Hamilton Gardens

A vertical garden wall covered with thousands of lush tropical plants will soon be unveiled at Hamilton Gardens when the new Tropical Garden opens.

More than 6000 “pockets” housing individual plants have been set above a pool, which is a key feature of the new Tropical Garden, the latest addition to the Hamilton Gardens’ Fantasy Garden Collection.

The Tropical Garden will open to the public on Wednesday, February 5.

Orchids from Australia, bamboos from Asia and even a Central American aloe have been planted. The garden pays homage to temperate climate gardeners who have tried to recreate the mysterious beauty of tropical landscapes since the 16th Century.

First mooted in 1999, construction of the Tropical Garden was started in 2011.

Hamilton Gardens Development Trust Chairman John Dobson says: “The construction had been made possible through the support of various sponsors, particularly WEL Energy Trust, The Lion Foundation and Foster Construction.”

Hamilton Gardens Director Peter Sergel says the Tropical Garden concept is relatively simple: “It features plants that look tropical but which will survive in a Waikato climate. They create the impression of a lush tropical garden but in fact are hardier species than those found in steamy tropical locations.”

The vertical gardens are becoming increasingly popular overseas, but uncommon in New Zealand, Mr Sergel says. The vertical gardens are attached to a block wall which runs through the centre of the garden. “Each of the vertical garden pockets holds a plant and they are fed by quite a complex drip irrigation system. The challenge of green walls is keeping them watered.”

Roughly 200 species feature in the garden, with more than 8000 individual specimens planted. An automated frost protection system will automatically turn itself on and off at certain temperatures, ensuring the plants don’t die in mid-winter.

Hamilton Gardens is owned by the people of Hamilton and operated by Hamilton City Council. It is the venue for hundreds of events annually. Developed substantially over the last 35 years, Hamilton Gardens includes five themed garden collections and contributes an estimated $8.5 million to the city’s economy annually. There are more than 1 million visits to Hamilton Gardens every year.

ENDS

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