Ellerslie Garden to Showcase Award-Winning Gardens

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From formal English gardens to rambling country estates and city hideaways, next year’s Ellerslie Garden Tours will showcase some of Canterbury’s best award-winning gardens.

Eight tours have been organised by the Canterbury Horticultural Society during the 2010 Ellerslie International Flower Show, reflecting the diversity of Canterbury’s landscape and the evolution of garden design in the region since it was settled in the 1850s.

Canterbury Horticultural Society Manager Iain Clark says Canterbury has a rich history, much of which can be seen in the region’s legacy of significant heritage gardens.

“Canterbury is blessed with a wealth of magnificent gardens. We have historic homesteads and cottages, modern rural retreats, contemporary urban hideaways and formal native country gardens all of which will be on show during Ellerslie.”

Mr Clark says the 2010 Ellerslie Garden Tours sees the return of four favourite tours from this year - City Courtyards, Premier Garden Tour, High Country and Country Splendour – and the introduction of four new tours – Gateway to the Country, Taste of North Canterbury, Akaroa and Urban Oases.

“There is a tour to appeal to all garden lovers. Garden tourism continues to grow, being popular with tourists and visitors alike to the region.”

The Ellerslie Garden Tours offer half-day city tours and full-day country excurisons to gardens throughout Christchurch, the Banks Peninsula, Akaroa, Ashburton area, North Canterbury and inland high country.

Highlights include a visit to the gardens of Sir Heaton Rhodes’ greatest legacy Otahuna; the woodland and water gardens at Trotts in Ashburton; a tour of the garden studio of watercolour artist Nancy Tichborne; the rolling lawns and gardens of Mona Vale; a large formal garden with native flora; a high country garden subjected to weather extremes; and a historic cottage with a series of courtyards.

For more details visit the Ellerslie International Flower Show website http://http://www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz

* Ellerslie International Flower Show is New Zealand’s premier week-long Garden Party in Christchurch’s North Hagley Park from 10 to 14 March. The Show celebrates Christchurch’s Garden City heritage and the best of national and international garden design. Check out the website for further information http://http://www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz

ENDS

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