Homestead Garden
Douglas Cook began planting immediately on taking up "Eastwoodhill". Seventy five roses were ordered from a nursery in Ashburton in winter 1910. Bulbs, flowers, vegetables, orchards trees and some woodlots were planted about the cottage and in Orchard Hill valley that first year. Many seeds of trees and shrubs were also purchased and sown. An order of a hundred trees and shrubs and a hundred rhododendrons and azaleas arrived a week or so before he was due to head off to Trentham Camp in 1914 and it was a rush to get these planted.
- The top lawn taken form the Homestead in 1931
Due to his war injuries, he had been sent to Britain to recuperate and there he stayed with his relatives in Scotland. He admired the gardens and homes. This was impetus for him to begin planning a garden at "Eastwoodhill". In his own words....
"I'd got the idea after staying with wealthy relatives and their friends, that I too could have lovely surroundings, even if I could never have a fine home and live as they did. That was the start of the Park. A dignified park to drive through to my home, whatever its size."
Planting was piece meal from over the next few years, broken by trips in 1922 and 1924 to Britain and a trip into the Baltic region. In 1926, the garden expansion began with an area close to the house being reworked and "Thousands of Tulips, Hyacinths and Paeonies were imported from Holland and broad herbaceous borders were made and planted, the slopes at the sides being planted in shrubs."
- Chusan palms along Palm Terrace 1931-1935
The present homestead, the third home on "Eastwoodhill" for Douglas, was built after the original house was burnt down and built to Cooks’ own design in four stages. Money was not available easily in those days immediately after the depression.
In the mid 1930s, Douglas employed a bricklayer to lay many yards of brick retaining walls and free standing walls. A circular sundial feature were laid and a set of Lutyens inspired round steps. In all there must have been quite a large bill involved for all this work.
- Chilly winter morning
Over the years, various organisations were given permission to hold open days at Eastwoodhill. To them went the profits. Teas were served with Douglas Cook providing the water, these being usually served from the House Terrace. The Youth Hostel Association, The National party, Save the Children’s Fund and probably others were all able to benefit from the public's interest in visiting the garden.
William Douglas Cook has played his part in advancing the love of horticulture in New Zealand. His legacy here at Eastwoodhill has inspired many plantings of deciduous trees throughout New Zealand. Many fine garden trees and shrubs in New Zealand had their origin in the original importation to “Eastwoodhill”.
- Robina in Lower Garden
In the later years of Douglas Cook life and after his death many parts of the arboretum was left neglected and it was only with the employment of Dan and Molly Weatherall in the mid 1970s that work began again clearing around the park. Molly decided to begin at the veranda of the Homestead and work out from there. Camellia were growing out of control and shutting out light to plants below, Ailianthus altissima had gone wild, springing up like weeds.
- Summer in Lower Garden
In 1984 four local women, Dawn Jefferd, Mary Bush, Robin McIldowie and Bev Bridge, concerned about the deteriorating health of the Homestead Garden formed a garden group and began the massive task of rejuvenating the garden. This group has now grown to a group of nearly two dozen volunteers who come up on a weekly basis to assist with the maintenance of the homestead Garden.
In 1992 the Trustboard appointed Gordon Collier, from Titoki Point, to be responsible for the overall design of the Homestead Garden area and through Gordon’s input the garden has developed into a major attraction for the arboretum.
- View over the sundial
In early 2005 Eastwoodhill was awarded a Garden of National Significance by the New Zealand Gardens Trust an organisation set up, amongst other things, to promote the interests and profile of member gardens and the open garden sector in general and develop a database and website of gardens endorsed by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH).
- Rhododendron flowering in the Bog Garden
This achievement has been the result of the many years hard work, since 1984, by the volunteer garden group, the garden adviser and staff and is a result everyone can feel proud of being involved with.