Silkwood Lodge
★★★★★
Silkwood Lodge Garden is a small native and sub-tropical Balinese style oasis, showcasing wider vistas and secluded seating areas.
The first view of the garden is from the street, where a deliberate effort has been made to include the road edge beyond the property.
Local moss covered rocks, sculptures, South Island schist pavers, tile steps, hardwood fences, hedges, wooden decks and ornate gates from Nepal, Java and Bali are all important aspects, giving structure to the garden. Mass plantings of clivia under nikau trees, crocuses, bromeliads and vireyas help to compliment the view.
Around seventy palms of different varieties were shifted from a previous garden. Some of these are now nearly forty years old, the three Jubaea chilensis being outstanding examples. A variety of nikau from both the mainland and off shore islands, including the stunning Pitt Island Nikau, are now self-seeding and create a consistency throughout the property.
Groundcover plants make a significant contribution to the landscape, including metrosideros carminia, gardenia radicans, mondo grass and self-seeded native ferns. Only one fern was planted originally, the Cythea Robusta. It has since died, but left behind two fine examples.
The non-chemical swimming pool curves into the garden with a sculptural quality, beautiful to look at and to swim in. The pool enclosure is a very subtle use of fences within the hedge, glass surrounds and an infinity edge with a weir. Due to natural filtration, frogs and dragonflies love to congregate in the regeneration pond at the bottom of the garden.
Facilities and Amenities
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By appointment only, charges apply.
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