No 11

Cottage and garden history

My cottage, 'No 11', was built in 1873 as part of a Victorian 'subdivision' of worker cottages.
Bounded by the Avon River and Fitzgerald Avenue, the land my cottage stands on, had originally been bought in 1850 by Willliam Guise Brittan for Englefield Farm during which time he built historic Englefield Lodge set in lawns and garden sweeping down to the river.
This rather grand house still stands today, though seriously compromised by the Christchurch earthquakes.
During the 1860's the Canterbury Settlement was developing quickly and needed housing for it's burgeoning population - particularly for it's workers, carpenters, stonemasons and labourers.

Brittan sold Englefield to George Hanmer and William Travers in 1864, who subdivided the farm into small sections suitable for workers cottages. The original streetscapes and many of the worker cottages are still intact today, making this a historic precinct bordering Christchurch CBD. My cottage, "No 11", surrounded by it's garden is one of these at 11 Hanmer Street .

The garden

The garden which surrounds my cottage is my lifeline. Working in the garden is utterly absorbing - it lifts my spirits and satisfies my creative urges. In spring and summer it is about life - watching plants grow, flourish and flower. Later in the season it is also about hibernation and death as some plants fade and die, and others are put to bed for the winter. But whatever the season there is always hope for another life and another season to come.

The front garden

My small front garden is street accessible, and follows the symmetry of the cottage. from the old front gate of rusted iron you can catch glimpses of the step and central platform made of brick and mosaic which leads to the verandah. there is no lawn - just garden either side of platform, planted in a prairie style using perennials and grasses, with some structural planting such as Cercis 'Forest pansy', Buxus, and New Zealand native plants, Muhlenbeckia complexa, which has been clipped and trained into vertical shapes as well as 2 Astelia chathamica, and 2 Pseudopanax crassifolius (Lancewood) which stand sentinel either side of the front steps.

the SIDe garden

surrounds a courtyard where the focal point is a concrete and mosaic pond and water feature. Also two pergolas supporting a white Wisteria and a white double Banksia Rose which shelters the brick and mosaic paving.

the Back garden

features a straight brick and mosaic path leading to a wooden colonial shed. The path is bordered by Standard Roses 'Burgundy Iceberg', and an edible garden framed by 2 Apricot trees either side of the shed.

FLOWERS IN THE GARDEN

the colours in the front garden feature orange, purple and lime green with some bronze foliage. while at the back the colours change to cool burgundy, pinks and blues and features silver/grey foliage in the form of a santolina hedge lining the path.