Treasure trove on our doorstep

Through the trees at Glenfalloch, the upper storey of the Homestead can be seen. Photos by...
Through the trees at Glenfalloch, the upper storey of the Homestead can be seen. Photos by Gillian Vine.
A red admiral butterfly rests on a Sally Holmes rose.
A red admiral butterfly rests on a Sally Holmes rose.
Hanging baskets outside the cafe.
Hanging baskets outside the cafe.
The ''picturesque residence of Mr George Gray Russell'', as captured by an Otago Witness...
The ''picturesque residence of Mr George Gray Russell'', as captured by an Otago Witness photographer in 1904. Photo by Otago Witness.
From the cafe terrace, there are views across Otago Harbour towards Mt Cargill.
From the cafe terrace, there are views across Otago Harbour towards Mt Cargill.
A fiery Japanese maple glows scarlet over a path.
A fiery Japanese maple glows scarlet over a path.
Among Glenfalloch's many fuchsias, this one with an almost orange corolla stands out.
Among Glenfalloch's many fuchsias, this one with an almost orange corolla stands out.
Salvia Black and Blue flowers well into autumn.
Salvia Black and Blue flowers well into autumn.
A very dark pink naked lady (Amaryllis belladonna) in the Rotary Garden at Glenfalloch.
A very dark pink naked lady (Amaryllis belladonna) in the Rotary Garden at Glenfalloch.

Autumn colours at Glenfalloch reflect its English style, says Gillian Vine.

As autumn advances, so do the leaf colours of many deciduous trees and at Glenfalloch, on Otago Peninsula, the vibrant tones are a tribute to those who, starting more than 140 years ago, planted English trees and Japanese maples.

The house, known now as the Homestead, was built in 1872 by George Gray Russell, who had bought 100 acres (40ha) from the Macandrew family the previous year.

Scots-born Russell was a very successful general merchant and runholder, whose fortune enabled him to build Glenfalloch as a holiday home.

He planted numerous trees, some of which remain, including a very tall macrocarpa above the Pottery Cottage, and retained some of the few remaining natives.

Notable is a matai believed to be at least 1000 years old.

Russell, a founding member of the Dunedin Amenities Society, was a tree enthusiast and in the 1880s and 1890s, planted oaks, elms and ashes at the rear of the property.

In 1899, shortly before his 70th birthday, Russell married for the first time, his bride being widow Barbara Mayne, reportedly many years his junior.

In 1905, he and his wife moved to in England, where he died in April 1919, at the age of 91.

Russell had attempted to sell Glenfalloch in 1916 in 11 lots but, although 10 were sold, what was called ''the Glenfalloch residence'' with about 11ha of gardens, orchard and paddocks was passed in at £1900.

A significant buyer at this sale was a Mr P. Barling, who bought a cottage with about 1.5ha of land.

This was presumably Philip Barling, the Englishman who built the Savoy restaurant, opened in 1912.

He was later to buy the Glenfalloch residence and land, but after some 20 years of neglect, the task of restoring the gardens must have been massive.

However, Barling was a keen and knowledgeable gardener.

He used sawdust and coke breeze to improve the soil before planting numerous trees and shrubs to create a garden in English woodland style.

Elms, ashes, walnuts, horse chestnuts, birches and English beeches were grown, underplanted with bluebells, daffodils and primroses, and the house upgraded to its present Art Deco style.

Flowers were grown to be picked for the tables at the Savoy and for Floriana, the floristry business Barling and his wife, Pearl, owned.

Despite the harbourside site, Japanese maples do well, protected from the winds by trees planted many years ago.

When Philip Barling died in 1956, his son James bought the estate.

In the late 1930s, he planted the first rhododendrons and azaleas, the seed of which came from renowned rhododendron breeder Edgar Stead, of Christchurch.

The result is best seen in spring, although the deciduous azaleas have fine leaf colour in autumn.

In 1957, James began a tradition which is still maintained, opening the gardens to the public.

The Queen Mother visited and commented that Glenfalloch was a beautiful place that made her feel as though she was back in England.

In 1960, Glenfalloch changed hands again, the buyers being keen gardeners Gordon and Stella Mills.

As well as adding more plants, they developed the catering business and Glenfalloch quickly became one of Dunedin's most important function venues, as well as being renowned for its peacocks.

Conscious of getting older and struggling with maintaining the 12ha garden, the Mills looked at alternatives and, from this, the Otago Peninsula Trust was formed under the chairmanship of the late Gordon Parry to save Glenfalloch.

It took over the property in 1969.

Developments in the trust's time have included the removal of century-old macrocarpas and pines near the entrance and the Rotary Club garden that has replaced them is an excellent addition to Glenfalloch.

Marketing manager Sophie Barker says: ''The wonderful thing about this garden is there are so many little treasures.''

The trust is committed to maintaining the woodland garden atmosphere, with its fine trees, many of which are at their peak in autumn when the foliage turns gold, scarlet and russet.

With a supporting cast of flowering shrubs such as white hydrangeas and numerous fuchsias, later-blooming perennials such as salvias, Japanese anemones and penstemons, this is a great time to visit the garden.

 


Visit

Glenfalloch is open from 11am, Thursday to Sunday. Admission is by donation, with $5 per person recommended.

For children, too

Glenfalloch is not just for adults. A school-holiday event today encourages them to identify weeds. Discover Pesky Pests will help youngsters learn about the ''nasties'' of the garden. The event runs from noon until 1.30pm. Then, coming up in July during the Cadbury Chocolate Festival is another of the popular Gnaughty Gnome hunts.


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