An Artist’s Garden

Hosts: Lissa & Al Holland

Address: 938 St Leonards Road, Culverden

Directions: From Culverden, turn off SH7 at Farm Source. Please note that St Leonards Road is often confused with nearby St Leonards Street.

Come and see what an artist’s eye can do in a North Canterbury farm garden. Enter through the John Rutherford designed and made gates and see the romantic Cecil Wood designed house built in 1952. All backed by 65 year old cedars and nestled at the foot of the Lowry Range.

To the right is a beautiful iron archway, a structure on which roses, clematis and jasmine climb, and often feature in Lissa’s artwork. On the left is Lissa’s studio, nestled in a flower filled border. Then follow the path to a new area of NZ native plantings which meanders down the hill. Here you can sit and take in the rolling green farmland and the amazing vista of the Lowry Range and a 955ha sheep and cattle farm.

Colourful borders of roses, peonies, and irises have been planned with Lissa’s artistic eye. Wander through the orchard lawn, featuring weeping elm, copper beech, flowering cherries, malus Jack Humm, 60 year old quinces, pears, and apples providing copious amounts of fruit in autumn. Add a herb garden, berry filled vegetable garden (containing an artistic surprise) and you have a beautiful relaxed and extensive farm garden with something for everyone to enjoy.