The Auckland Domain Wintergarden

The Wintergarden is found in Auckland, New Zealand and was built in commemoration of the Auckland Industrial Agricultural and Mining Exhibition of 1913-14

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It was designed in the early 1900s in the style of the famous English partnership of Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jeckyll – my favourite designers of the English County Garden style.

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The building was opened on the 12 October 1921 for the benefit and pleasure of the public.

The two barrel-shaped Victorian glasshouses face out onto an open courtyard with a pond and mosaic fountain. Marble statues were added in the 1920s and 1930s and pergolas around the courtyard are covered in showy climbers.

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One glasshouse is full of exotic flowers: gingers, orchids, palms, Heliconia and other rare plants. The other is for temperate climate plants such as the gorgeous blue delphiniums in the photos.

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As usual my attention was drawn not only to the flora, but also the architecture of these buildings and in particular, the windows. Although the glasshouses need a little attention (well so would you after 100 years) the curved ends and decorative leaded windows are still beautiful.

DSCF9658The complex is completed by New Zealand ferns growing in a sunken scoria quarry to the rear.

This monthly challenge is hosted by Dawn from ‘The Day After’ who invites participants to post pictures of any windows that  they find curious, inviting, photogenic, or in some way tell a story. Visit her blog to see more windows and/or to join in with the challenge.

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

63 thoughts on “The Auckland Domain Wintergarden”

    1. Spirits need lifting here today Gerard – it can’t make it’s mind up whether to rain or snow! Whatever, it is too cold to step outside 🙂

  2. We are off to NZ next week! Picking up a car in Auckland before visiting my brother so we may pop in!

  3. Lovely windows and plants. Looks like a nice place to visit. I’m not so sure about the statues Jude. ‘Gilding the lily’ springs to mind.
    Regards as always, Pete. x

    1. After benches windows are probably my next photographic quirk 😀 My son took me here to show me the flowers, but I enjoyed the actual structures more!

  6. This is a fabulous place to spend an afternoon. Fabulous. The building is amazing and it’s warming to know it has been kept up this long. I’m absolutely taken with this place and architecture. Thank you for sharing, Jude. ❤ ❤ ❤

    1. A fabulous place to spend time if the weather is poor. You probably realise by now that I am a keen fan of Victorian style glass houses 😉

  7. Absolutely gorgeous photos Jude, what a beautiful place to visit…but then all your places are 🙂

    1. My son was very keen to show me this place – he saw it on his first visit to Auckland and thought of me. Actually (though don’t tell him) I would have preferred the planting in the Botanical Garden as that is native flora, but I did enjoy the structures, the windows and the fernery 🙂

  8. What a beautiful and enchanting place! You have captured the gardens so beautifully. I love how you varied the way you presented your pictures – in different types of galleries or full-framed. Such a lovely post!

    1. I’m sure they all need a lot of maintenance (well, this one does) but I think they are so beautiful they should be restored and kept for public use.

  10. Nother one for the list… when I get down to NZ, Jude 🙂 Love the black and white of the window. Did I say that? Not like me at all! Reminds me I haven’t done a windows forever but it’ll have to wait till after the Algarve now.
    Now I’m off for a story 🙂

    1. Is New Zealand on the list then Jo? If not then it should be. A long way to travel to, but oh, is it worth it!

      1. It is, Jude, but like the Far East it’s at the impossible end of my list. No harm in dreaming (and reading beautiful posts) is there? 🙂

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