Eden Garden
This garden is significant because it used to be a quarry and up until 1964 was an eyesore for the residents of Mount Eden and Epsom. Jack Clark, a horticulturist with vision had set about transforming this five acre blemish on the landscape into a haven for the enthusiastic gardener and a sanctuary for the birds. He and fifteen other volunteers converted the old quarry into an award winning Auckland Garden. It is a safe haven for the shy Fantails and when walking through these gardens you will see that they are very much in abundance as are the cheeky Tui birds. These gardens are a national showplace now and are maintained and developed by volunteer workers who give freely of their time and labour.
This is a map of the garden which is made up of paths whose names are a commemoration of Society members who were prominent in developing that particular area.
The terrain can be tiresome for some, as it goes up to lookouts and down steep inclines but there is a wheelchair available and access along the paths is generous. There is a drinking fountain on one of the paths and a café to sit down and enjoy the scenery and a have a tasty lunch. The facilities are very welcoming as are the people who are working here. There are plenty of seats along the way so you can sit and enjoy the birdsong and the quiet of nature. If you are into photography there are many photo opportunities to take advantage of too. It would be easy to spend some time here.
The plants of year round interest would have to be the native ferns, Rhododendron vireya,Palms, Conifers and Bromeliads. This garden has the largest and most varied collections of Camelias in the country. There are horticultural shows hosted throughout the year and of course varied seasonal attractions.
For further information about the garden go to Eden Garden.
