Point-and-shoot-arama

The garden of Frank and Vicki Boffa near Wellington may be the most idyllic and perfect garden I have ever visited. Of course it helped that there was just the right amount of diffused sun and the temperature was perfect! And no mosquitos--how'd they manage that?

Just 11 hours after posting this image on Facebook, 260 co-FB'ers "liked" it and a dozen shared it--a scientific measure of exactitude you couldn't question, could you?

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 Despite the innumerable tree ferns (as you shall see) and many exotic elements, I was struck time and again at how familiar plants--hostas, daylilies and of course Agapanthus--were incorporated seamlessly: what a climate in that area!

As in almost every New Zealand garden in January, the Ligularias ruled here: vast drifts beckoned...

There were many magnolias--the seedpods on this one were vaguely....you know...

 The dazzling variegated fuchsia almost distracts from the paradisal view. Spellcheck doesn't recognize the various adjectives derived from paradise--what a comment on our un-edenic age!

I  believe this is Pyrrhosia eleagnifolia--one of the commonest New Zealand epiphytic ferns. Wouldn't it be fun to have this clambering over your tree trunks?

Lobelia syphilitica

 How strange to see blue lobelia--which grows natively in the Colorado piedmont, as well as much of the eastern US and Canada, thriving along the pond margin!

The first good view of the larger Tree fern grove--there were several there...not sure which of the 10 native species of Dicksonia or Cyathea this would be.

Tree ferns with duck and reflections...

Reflections...

 It was so clear the reflection could have passed as reality! (notice the bubbles?) I just flipped this one so the reflection looks upright!

Lichens encrusted the road, the trees--everything: the place obviously is humid occasionally!

 Here another fern is climbing a trunk...

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 I can't get enough pictures of those darned ferns! Nestled edenically around the house.

A lovely wild form of Iris ensata--still blooming at the equivalent of late July...

I know Lythrum is anathema to many, but I still love it (although I resist planting it--despite the fact that it is hardly likely to be weedy in my dry garden). It combines well with tree ferns--but then, what doesn't?
 

Lobelia cardinalis 'Queen Victoria'

 The regal queen looks good alongside ferns as well...

I rather like this shot with some cannas off to the side..how to pick? Heck--I'll do both.

The view from the big deck in front of the house out to where we were walking...

Just a few last glimpses...

As we returned to the bus, I asked Harry Rissetto--formerly chairman of the board of the American Horticultural Society--agreed to pose alongside some of the Agapanthus that border the path out of the garden for scale. A fine flourish to the last of 18 superlative private gardens featured on this AHS extravaganza to New Zealand. Mind you, we had lots of other distractions--nature, museums, wineries and spectacular public gardens to mention a few--and lavish breakfasts, lunches and dinners. A feast for the eyes as well as the tummy! I only hope we can all fit on the plane heading home!