Art in a Garden

Eleven years ago friends Penny Zino & Alison Meyer had a vision of introducing the beauty and peace of the district of Hawarden & Waikari; the district they have lived in and brought up their families in to the wider community.  Not only did they see that district offered visitors to the area a chance to experience rural North Canterbury's spectacular vistas but also enjoy Flaxmere a Garden of National Significance, hence the idea was born to exhibit Sculpture in the garden gallery of Flaxmere and Paintings displayed in old barn converted into a gallery with all the correct lighting.

They both wanted the exhibition to have a charity aspect. Their chosen charities were and remain so today, The Cancer Society and Amuri St John.  From small beginnings Art in a Garden has continued to grow with exhibitors from throughout New Zealand displaying their work for sale. Growing numbers of visitors to the event enjoy not only the drive through rural Canterbury to Flaxmere, but the art, music and food which all combines in great day out.

Alison & Penny have had the satisfaction of exposing to the public new & upcoming artists as well as established artists.  As Art in a Garden enters its 9th year two new faces have joined the management of the exhibition Pip Miller (Alison's daughter) and Rachael Zino (Penny's daughter in law).  With them they have brought new ideas which we look forward to presenting to the public  this year.

Flaxmere Garden

Over 45 years ago on a North Canterbury sheep farm, the garden at Flaxmere was established, boldly designed to frame the breath taking mountain vistas and create a sense of tranquility with a series of ponds. Situated near the Southern Alps at an altitude of 300 metres, Flaxmere has developed into a stunning example of a Garden that evolves with the seasons, unforgettably splendid at any time of the year.

Flaxmere has been made a Garden of National Significance by the New Zealand Garden Trust which is affiliated to the Royal Institute of Horticulture.

Visitors from around the world have been welcomed for many years, and as this is a perfect natural garden gallery Penny Zino has opened her garden for an annual presentation of artworks by some of New Zealand's finest sculptors and painters. www.flaxmeregarden.co.nz