A love letter to Wellington's Botanic Gardens

At the start of last month I moved from my beautiful city. I will miss, mostly, my precious best friend, but to think about it breaks my heart too much, and I am writing this on notes app on the sidelines of a children’s football game, surrounded by incredibly aggressive Australian dads. So not an appropriate venue to cry for her (again). 

Instead, I write a love letter to Wellington’s Botanic Gardens. At least once a week for two years, I would walk to the Botanical Gardens, get lost amongst the winding paths, and find myself along the way. Nothing was grounding like the horseshoe bend, the duck pond, or the frangrance garden. Nothing could save me from my overactive mind, a corporate induced mental crisis, or the violent sunday scaries, like the comfort I could find in the botanical gardens.

My precious highlights:

My favourite bench:

Malcolm and Dee Ross, whoever they were, have a special place in my heart. I also love their secret garden, and how blessed and special I am to be able to share with them. Their bench has given me the gift of quiet reflection for me on many an occasion, a place to hide away and remember my spirit and mind. This is without a doubt, my favourite place in Wellington. I hope Dee and Malcolm know that it is their love makes it so. *

* I have a tendency to bring my dates on walks, and I like to share my favourite places. So my serene memories of the bench are admittedly, slightly altered, as have shared a secret kiss or two in Malcolm and Dee’s secret garden (oops!)

* Malcolm and Dee's secret garden is in the Horseshoe Bend. Do with that what you will.

The bamboo garden / Glenmore St Meadow:

I have only ever been to the bamboo garden once, but it was magical. I went with a dear friend, and we stood in the filtered sunlight and talked about our dreams. I mentioned on the off hand that some of the broken bamboo would make for good incense holders, and unbeknownst to me, they went back later to get some, and made one for me. It was a very special day. 

The Bronze Form:
I would walk past the Bronze Form every day to uni, and everyday I would look at her, magnificent, and misunderstood. She is so special to both me and my best friend. Her solitude, untouchable but beautiful. Intense in her metal sculpture, but graceful, feminine nonetheless. She is strong, and she is inspiring. She stands and watches over Thorndon, our old home, and takes care of us. I will miss her. 

This is her: https://www.sculpture.org.nz/thesculptureshtml/bronze-form


Wellington and its gardens has been so good to me, and so I write this, a devotion. 

With love, Hannah