The Water Race

The Water Race is a man-made irrigation canal, flowing right through the Moosey property behind the house. It's like a small burbling stream, but it's dead straight, with smooth river stones on the bottom. The water is for irrigation and stock.

The water comes from the nearby Waimakariri River. It's often quite cold with snow-melt in ther aspring, and silty when there's rain in the mountains. Only when the river is in serious flood is the water race shut down to a trickle.

Gardens By the Water

Several Moosey gardens have developed around the water race, and the banks have been planted with flaxes, ferns and giant Gunnera. There are four bridges, and waterside paths. And all the giant Gunnera are free-floaters, arriving as seedlings from ustream.

Originally a gorse hedge ran parallel to the race, and the next-door paddock contained a double row of huge gum trees. A new shelter belt and fence was put in ten years ago, allowing the area to be cleared and planted.

This flowering water feature is much loved by the Head Gardener - whether seeking ambience with a good book in hand, or wanting to cool off! And it's handy when Rusty the dog has rolled in something disgusting.