A Sheep in a Tree

"Dominion" Sean Crawford, Christchurch Botanic Gardens. March 2009. Ajr

It's fair to say there have been a few puzzled people in Christchurch Botanic Gardens as they come upon Sean Crawford's sculpture, included in Flora and Forma which runs during the Festival of Flowers and Ellerslie International Flower Show. Crawford has suspended a merino ram, made of powder-coated, laser-cut steel poppies that have multi-levelled references - to gardens, to the New Zealand Coat of Arms, to the red soldier poppy representing sacrifice. Crawford, who lives in the Wairarapa, began his working career as a plumber and in 2003 he completed a design degree at Victoria University in Wellington. www.festivalofflowers.co.nz www.seancrawford.co.nz

Flora and Forma - Part Two

Christchurch Botanic Gardens. March 2009. Ajr

Franz Josef-based Hannah Kidd's wry sense of humour comes to the fore in this gathering of miniature caravans scattered across the archery lawn in Christchurch Botanic Gardens, as if they've somehow fallen out of the sky. Made of steel rod and corrugated iron, galvanised and powder-coated, Caravans will 'speak' nostalgically to many New Zealanders. It will draw forth memories of camping ground holidays, long hot days at the beach and the cramped, family closeness that comes with these much-loved temporary homes. It's a charming nod to Kiwiana. www.hannahkidd.co.nz

Flora and Forma

Christchurch Botanis Gardens. march 2009. Ajr

Meet Podoferricus Inosculata

Coming upon this sculpture by Tony Bond on the Botanic Garden's Pine Mound is something of a visual treat. It has a low profile - snuggled into the grass - and is only just visible from the lawns below. But that's a glimpse tantalising enough to have encouraged me forward. Made of welded G-clamps, Bond's work alludes to any number of things. For me it's a pristine construction, part white waka - a canoe 'beached' on a grassy, pine-covered hillock and part teepee. I had to fight the urge to crawl inside; and now that I'm home again, I wonder why I resisted. www.festivalofflowers.co.nz