‘Gardening without borders’
Hobbiton Movie Set has won a trilogy of awards at the New Zealand Flower and Garden Show in Auckland.
The Beekeeper’s Hobbit Hole, designed and built by the Hobbiton Movie Set team won a gold medal, The Horticultural Excellence Award and The Best in Show Award.
The award-winning garden references the village of Hobbiton and was created over a two-week period for the New Zealand Flower and Garden Show.
A statement from Hobbiton said the Beekeeper’s Hobbit Hole gave visitors to the flower and garden show a glimpse of Middleearth with an amazing garden exhibit that captured Tolkien’s naturally rambling style.
It had a profusion of plants coexisting without rigid lines or divisions.
It said ‘‘gardening without borders’’ best described the Hobbit Hole garden’s style.
Hobbiton Movie Set Project Manager Brian Massey said he was delighted with the awards.
‘‘Our aim was to achieve a seamless blending of architecture and botanic. In many of Tolkien’s imaginings, trees were part of the structural architecture. The ground becomes buildings and roofs, while buildings are climbing frames for plants.
‘‘Our hope is to have the garden not appear as recently installed but well lived in, with the impression the beekeeper has just ‘ducked away’ from sitting in the sun.
‘‘Most of all, we would like to engage visitors and fill them with the feeling of ‘I would just like sit in this garden for a while’.’’
Hobbiton Movie Set chief executive Russell Alexander was thrilled the Hobbiton team had won three amazing awards.
‘‘To have the Hobbit Hole Garden described by the international gardening judges as world-class is humbling and a great testament to the team we have working in Hobbiton.’’
He said creating a piece of Middle-earth in Auckland was an amazing opportunity to give people a temporary glimpse into the Shire.
The New Zealand Flower and Garden Show made its debut at The Trusts Arena, West Auckland, November 29 to December 3.
Visitors to the show were treated with national and international garden designs and floral art.