Lotus flower buds
White lotus flower - doesn't look real!
This morning we decided to visit Wright's Water Gardens in Franklin, about 45 minutes from home, but well worth the drive.
Girls on the Chinese bridge
They (the gardens) began life as a derelict quarry site in 1992 but is now a unique water garden with views of Mauku Waterfall.
Waterfall and orange irises
It has ponds, a rocky quarry, beautiful gardens, masses of flowers and pathways among the lilies. It was ideal for the day and we picnicked on homemade rosemary and cheese scones and ice-creams.
Water Gardens and flowers
Wrights Watergardens were built around Mauku Waterfall, which is about 10 metres high and very noisy! But it gives a good background for photos!
Me and the Waterfall
Lotus flowers crowded by the waterfall
During the eighteen hundreds, a huge waterwheel was located at the top of the waterfall which powered the flax mill built beside it.
Once the mill was gone, it became a favourite picnic spot and the site of many wedding proposals (we even saw a rehearsal in progress)
Shaded benches along the boardwalk
Boardwalk on the lakes filled with water lilies
After the Second World War the land was turned into a rock quarry which provided much of the hard metal for the roads leading out to the local steel mill. The excavations have now become the lotus and lily ponds.
Waterfall with the girls
The quarry is now a 5-acre garden and it is the water lilies, lotus flowers and iris which make it so beautiful.There are over 30 ponds filled with all different coloured flowers that don't look quite real...
Lotus flower
Girls by the orange irises
Crocodile head someone with a sense of humour put him there!
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