Frost is delighted to introduce the first of our features from Geni Ray Johnston, who lives in Taupo, New Zealand and is a member of Live Poets.
Along the old Coach Road off the Napier-Taupo Highway is a little piece of Paradise, Trelinnoe Park, created by Brian and John Wills. The Live Poets from Taupo and Hastings met there in October, the start of New Zealand’s spring, because that is the best time to see the rhododendrons in flower.
The weather forecast wasn’t hopeful, but we decided that nothing less than the road being closed by snow would stop us. After all, all manner of challenges had done nothing to prevent the brothers from turning the waste scrubland they acquired in 1956 into this glorious landscaped park. Ten poets set off in the bus from Taupo and arrived at Trelinnoe in time to grab a quick cup of coffee.
The weather appeared to be improving so we set off to explore and found the yellow iris at their best, growing in profusion around the man made lakes. A glorious splash of sunshine on a wet day.
We walked on and found ourselves emerging onto wide swathes of lawn, and more blossom. The lawns and trees are a structural feature of Brian and John’s design, and which give a feeling of space and perspective. This space works particularly well when set off by the slopes of woodland planting, the soaring tall trees, and of course the rhododendrons, and Magnolias (we were told we should have come in September to see the full range of Magnolias)
Every corner revealed another vista. But gradually the rain became heavier much as it does in Cornwall, ( or so Margaret Graham tells us) where Brian and John’s grandfather lived, on a farm called Trelinnoe, before emigrating. We buttoned our coats tighter and pulled up hoods. We were still having fun. In the rain the greens were greener, and the flowers brighter.
Conversation flowed, time passed. Shirley, Vic, and Liz took off ahead, Teresse, Joanna and I took a slightly different route. Shirley’s group had the map and we spotted them through the trees, but detouring to where they were seemed like back tracking. We forged on regardless and came upon things that amazed. This tree belongs in Lord of the Rings, I think.
I sometimes have trouble walking if I am gallivanting for too long and the café was beckoning, so Joanna and Teresse took an arm each and we carried on.
We saw a sculpture which was Herculean in concept, so rain not withstanding, we had a bit of a photoshoot. It was at this point a white knight on a quad bike appeared to whisk us in turn, away to the café – Bruce Wills to the rescue. I took first trip.
Away we went up hills and round bends until I was disembarked with great aplomb, back at the café and into the midst of some of the poets who had arrived back via different routes. They were well ahead with their lunch, not to mention their poetry reading.
Bruce mounted his charger again, and returned to scoop up the rest of the missing poets, Jo, and Teresse, though I feel they would both have been happy to be ‘lost’ for a while longer to explore the riches of Trelinnoe, especially this orchid we found.
John Wills has Parkinson’s disease and also writes poetry so he was delighted to come and join the poets and to share one of his poems. As I said when I finally dried out enough to share a poem or two ‘Anyone can walk through the park in the sun, but come in the rain, it’s much more fun!’
