King’s Ridge gardens sits in a natural amphitheatre, its gentle slopes bounded by a ridge providing stunning westerly views of the summer blue or winter white Ruahine Ranges and eastward to the green ‘shires’ of Wapawa. All agree it’s a truly magnificent site. Many visitors find it hard to believe that just seven years ago a sheep paddock occupied the site of these now well-established gardens.
Two historic houses threatened with demolition were relocated to the property in 2017, a 1900’s villa from Fielding, the other a tiny 1865 pioneer cottage from Hastings. .
Two historic houses threatened with demolition were relocated to the property in 2017, a 1900’s villa from Fielding, the other a tiny 1865 pioneer cottage from Hastings. .
Using recycled materials left over from the house renovations the garden now features a purpose-built art studio, a picturesque alfresco Bath House and the award-winning Shed of the Year the Flower House
Using recycled materials left over from the house renovations the garden now features a purpose-built art studio, a picturesque alfresco Bath House and the award-winning Shed of the Year the Flower House .
Each Spring pink blossom dresses the Awanui Flowering Cherries which mark the driveway approach to the gardens. In summer a spectacular show of tall blue agapanthus edged with smaller Blue Ice, dress the right-side bank.
At the upper gates a pair of black wrought iron gates mark the formal entrance to the Ridge House and Gardens. Facing them on the ridge crest are the Ridge House and Studio. Anniversary Cottage, a charming B&B sits behind a black picket fence, its archway entrance smothered in old roses. Beyond the gates the gravel driveway encircles a lawn with tall trees. Between the villa and the studio is a pergola walk dressed with Sally Holmes roses and two ornamental vines.
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The pergola screens the Italianate courtyard behind with its tall cypress and outdoor chessboard. This area invitingly catches the last rays of the setting sun
Above the courtyard on the crest of the ridge is the veranda entrance to the Art Studio and the Victorian Parterre Vegetable Garden. The vegetable garden features raised beds of seasonal kitchen vegetables, strawberries and asparagus, a row of magnificent rhubarb, four Ballerina variety apple trees, a trellis bean frame, grape arbour, compost bins and liquid fertiliser barrel. It is a very productive area for a relatively small space.
The wide central walk through the lavender arcs leads down to the cottage.
