Hedge Archways...

Having been very taken with the shaped hedges at Highgrove, we decided when we planted our leiland hedges, we would add some interest by having archways and castellations in them.

Above and below: The shaped hedges at Highgrove. 

The archways line up with vistas inside the house, so that from certain French windows you can see through the hedges to focal points, such as a bench under the copse of Oaks in Spencer's corner...

The hedge has made reasonable progress since a year ago...

In time the arch will become higher and acuter, resembling more the sort of arch below...

The arch above looks as if it is fashioned out of a Hornbeam or Beech hedge, whereas the more traditional choice for a clipped hedge would be Yew, like the arch below...

There are many things that you can do with hedges to add interest (other than clip them into waves). Here are some more examples I found on Pinterest, which I rather like...

I really like these topiary obelisks which 'book-end' the hedge nicely and again frame a vista in the garden. 

More hedged pillars...

Niches in a hedge with recessed busts are also a dramatic way to add interest to an otherwise green wall, and give people the joy of discovering things as they journey through the grounds...

Good Morning Sunshine...

Happy May Day! Here are some lovely shots of the dawn breaking as seen from the balcony of the bridal suite...

The sun's rays cascading through the early morning Waikato mist on a cool Autumn day...

The crisp blue sky...

with Swallows darting about, and the Nymphaeum in the background...

Farewell to our Godson...

Our godson, Michael, left us this weekend after a jolly tour of NZ to move on to the USA (we think it is open again).

We think he enjoyed his time with us. He did the obligatory planting of trees at WBP (as all our visitors do). He planted two very dramatic Magnolia 'Cleopatra' outside the entrance to The Nymphaeum in memory of his visit...

Magnolia Cleopatra is New Zealand variety cultivated by Vance Hooper, by crossing Sweet Simplicity with Black Tulip...

He was also there for the birth of our first successful hatching of incubated runner duck eggs (previously when we had left the Indian Runners to their own natural devices their nests were ravaged by ? stoats). This year to collect the eggs and incubate them with good results...

and the birth of a litter of piglets...

He also got to go Zorbing...

Above and Below: Peter and Michael Zorbing

and Bungy Jumping...

and flying...

and shooting...

He was a marvelously jammy devil, with a hit rate of at least 90% - excellent for most shooters, but amazing for someone who had never held a gun before in his life! 

We hope he enjoyed himself and has a great time on his round the world tour. We look forward to him coming back once WBP is up and running.

Nymphaeum 2...

The Nymphaeum is coming along nicely. 

Above: Looking south towards the entrance.

Below: Looking north from the entrance.

We were lucky enough to find 7 of these carved stone benches to go around the hedging. But alas, have yet to find any Herms/Terms. If anyone knows where We might source some could they please let us know - it would be most appreciated.

Above: An example of one of the benches

As you can see, the hedge has grown about 8 feet in the last year...

Above: Last Spring

Below: This Spring

On our last visit to London we went back to Kew, as I wanted to take some photos of the Herms/Terms there. I had mentioned them in my previous blog, but was disappointed to find I hadn't any nice photos of them from our previous trip. So, here they are...

Herms Hedge / Nymphaeum...

A nymphaeum was an ancient monument, usually a grotto, dedicated to the nymphs, especially water nymphs. A herm or term was an ancient Roman statue, usually without arms on a pillar-type base, which was placed on boundaries, or where one's property ended - hence terminus. There are lovely examples of such hedges at Kew Gardens and also at Chiswick House.


I like the idea of having an area enclosed by hedging, with herms in niches all around the hedge, which would mark out the boundary between the park gardens and the farm annex. It would form a kind of nymphaeum as well. From my plans below, one can see where the hedges would go. At this stage they are planned to be planted in Prunus laurocerasus - a Laurel-type hedge (yes, thinking of you Millie), but a cultivar of Laurel which is not quite so poisonous (Laurel is quite toxic to animals, even prunings which have been lying about for months on end), thus not a good choice for a farm boundary. Yew and Leilandii are also good choices.


It would have a wooden gate in the middle of the hedge, with statues placed symmetrically around the hedge, with a vista over the gate to the farm, and would be another area which couples could choose from when deciding where to having their wedding ceremony.

Updated 06/08/2010: The Nymphaeum has been shifted to elsewhere in the park. It is still the same design (see below), but has now been planted, with Cupressocyparis ovensii hedging. Its entrance is from the Hydrangea Lawn...

I am reminded of the same titled painting by Adolphe-William Bouguereau, of nymphs cavorting in a Nymphaeum.