Our Seaside Gardens

One would think that being right on the Ocean the gardens would struggle, the soil is mostly sand with a bit of topsoil and nutrients added.  However, we are proud of the lush growth and variety of flowers and shrubs we have beautifying our property.  When we first opened 8 years ago we were watering often to nurture the young plants (mostly propagated from gardens of friends and neighbours) to encourage their growth.  Now we spend time cutting back to shape the shrubs and to control their growth and size. 

We have endeavoured to plant as many varieties of colour and of the local flora.  For example, the images on this page display many different colours and species of hibiscus, local roti, tiare maori, greenery, bourgenvillia, gardenia, tipani (frangipani), orchids and more.  Whilst the flowers are lovely to look at, it is a custom in the Cook Islands to present visitors with Head eis and Neck eis all made from local flowers, mostly gardenia, tiare maori and other varieties to add colour.  The Head and Neck eis are also given from one person to another as an appreciation, or worn as adornment on a special occasion.  Obviously an abundance of flowers is necessary, to this end some of the local people especially plant their land with many bushes of gardenia & tiare maori to endeavour to supply the quantity of flowers continually needed.