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Friars Glencolyn Garden
| Address | P O Box 49, Kimbolton, Manawatu. From SH 1, take SH 54 to Cheltenham. Turn into Kimbolton Rd. Travel 14km to Kimbolton, then turn left at pub into Grammar Street to Friars Glencolyn Garden on corner of Grammar and Flyger Streets at 38 Grammar St. Or from Palmerston North travel north to Feilding & take Kimbolton Rd north. Then as above to Friars Glencolyn. |
| Region | Manawatu |
| Privately owned or public | Private |
| Email | |
| Phone | +64-6-328 5746; +64-21 453 867 and +64-21 0670650 |
| Fax | +64-6-328 5917 |
| Contact Person | Denis or Jillian Friar |
| Website | www.friarsgardens.co.nz |
| Hours | All year, by prior appointment only . Closed Saturdays |
| Garden Size | Medium - 2 hectares (5 acres) Allow 1-2 hrs |
| Price | $7 pp; or $6 pp for groups of 20+ |
| Brochure Available? | Business card available |
| Parking | On and off street parking for buses coaches and cars. |
| Toilets | 2 visitor toilets |
| Food Available | Refreshments by prior arrangement |
| Cafe/Restaurant available? | No |
| Seating | Yes |
| Picnics | Yes |
| Wheelchair Access | Partly only |
| Dogs Allowed | On a leash |
| Children Allowed | Under supervision only (pond) |
| Accommodation | By arrangement |
| Weddings | Yes |
| Plant/Other Sales | Plants and Art available. |
| Guided Tours | Yes by arrangement, please ask for price. |
| Function center? | No |
| Winery? | No |
| Other Facilities | Friars Glencolyn Garden is just a 5-min walk from the Heritage Park Rhododendron Trust gardens. And it is only a 5-min drive up the road to the equally famous Cross Hills Gardens and Nursery. All these 3 gardens are open through spring, summer and autumn, but they peak in November when the rhodos are in full bloom. Friars and Heritage Park are also open in winter. |
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The GardenThis tranquil woodland garden was developed over four decades by plantsman Colin Spicer. As well as the tall mature exotic trees that abound, many of them very rare, this garden features extensive underplanting. Thousands of hellebores lining the streambank are followed by bluebells and primulas throughout the wetlands of the streams. Drifts of autumn and spring crocuses also brighten the garden. Early spring brings dozens of daffodils to the fore, followed by tulips. The colchicums take their place in autumn. Cardiocrinum giganteum are eye-catching in December when the waterlilies in the pond are at their full glory.
Set on the edge of Kimbolton village, just 3 minutes' drive south of Cross Hills, Friars Glencolyn Garden enjoys the altitude that enables it to feature many South Island varieties of plants that it is too warm to see elsewhere in the North Island. These include woodland treasures such as trilliums in early spring accompanying the camellias and clematis "falls", and the luscious peonies that complement the rhododendrons in November.
Since taking over Glencolyn, Denis and Jillian have introduced hundreds of Japanese maples and underplantings of tree ferns and arthropodiums in the forested areas. These set off the multitude of spectacular European and American trees, including redwoods, red cedars, silver birches, and a sorbus collection. Native birds are attracted to the many trees, with tui and native pigeons frequent visitors. Drifts of spring bulbs such as miniature daffodils, chiondoxa, uvularia and erythroniums have also been planted throughout the garden.
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The GardenerHi! We are a husband-and-wife team whose combined interest is in gardens. Denis is a professional photographer and an artist, and Jillian is a writer. We have authored many garden books and magazine articles together over the past decade or so, and are enjoying developing and refining our 2-hectare (5-acre) mature woodland garden in Kimbolton.
Until recently we owned and authored the successful Friars Guide to New Zealand Accommodation for the Discerning Traveller. We have been visiting, photographing and writing about the vast range of New Zealand gardens open to visit for the past 2 decades.
We have 4 children and 4 grandchildren and have built our eco-friendly house, ready for the coming global crisis when peak oil really hits home.
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