Brought to you by Garden History Research Foundation:
Event 1: The inaugural Marilyn Yeoman Memorial Talk, 2026: “The Medieval Cloister Garden: A Vision of Paradise“
A talk by international expert Dr Annette Giesecke.
Followed by:
Event 2: Behind-the-scenes of Hamilton Gardens’ Medieval Garden.
Exclusive tour of the new gardens by Hamilton Gardens Director, Lucy Ryan.
Details: 13 February 2026, 4.30 to around 6.00 p.m.
Pīwakawaka Room, Hamilton Gardens (for talk; followed by tour)
Entry $20 waged; $10 unwaged for both events — please bring cash & walking shoes
Event 1: “The Marilyn Yeoman Memorial Talk 2026: The Medieval Cloister Garden: A Vision of Paradise” by Dr Annette Giesecke
To mark the inaugural Marilyn Yeoman Memorial Talk, Dr Annette Giesecke will give an illustrated lecture tracing the history and symbolism of the medieval cloister garden from the desert oases of Persia and villa gardens of Roman emperors in antiquity to monastic cloisters in the Middle Ages.
Dr Annette Giesecke is a specialist in the history, meaning, and representation of gardens and designed landscapes. Her work extends to domestic architecture and décor in the ancient Mediterranean world, the influence of Middle Eastern garden traditions on those of the West, and the many cultural ‘uses’ of plants in antiquity: symbolic, religious, culinary, medicinal, ornamental, and technological included.
Event 2: Guided, Behind-the Scenes-Tour of Hamilton Gardens’ Medieval Garden
This will be led by Lucy Ryan, Director of Hamilton Gardens, who has an esteemed career in museum and heritage studies, which includes working at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa as well as Auckland Museum. She has been Director of Hamilton Gardens since 2021.
The Garden History Research Foundation 