DECORATIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27226, 18 December 1953, Page 10

DECORATIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH

GROWTH OF FLOWERS BELQW HOPES DIRECTOR “NOT UNDULY CONCERNED” Although flowers being grown by the'reserves department of the City Council for the decoration of Christchurch for the Royal visit are growing “fairly well,” they are not coming along as well as the Director of Reserves (Mr M. J. Barnett) would like. “All plants have their period of flowering, and unless they are kept in a glasshouse and forced their development cannot be expedited;” said Mr Barnett yesterday. “Even helichrysums which were sown in the autumn are no further ahead than those sown in the early spring. However, we are not greatly concerned over it, because we think that with the assistance of the public, garden clubs, and institutions we will have sufficient flowers. “After all. the floral decoration of the city will not absorb as many flowers as did the Centennial floral pageant—nothing like it. And just as well, because we would not have them.” After the marvellous rain of a fortnight ago the flower beds in the city were developing and were becoming spectacular. Victoria square plots promised to be brilliant for the Queen’s visit. “Our main worry with flowers for the floral schemes is going to be the last three days—January 15, 16, and 17 —and the morning of January 18, the day of the Queen’s arrival in Christchurch,” said Mr Barnett. “We cannot do the decorating any earlier, because the flowers will not last. It is going to be difficult enough to make them look fresh as it is.” A decoration which would be admired was the crown on the lawn immediately to the west of the archery lawn in the Botanic Gardens, where the civic garden party will be held on the afternoon of January 20, and close to the rose garden. It would look 100 per better, he said, on a slope of from 10 to 15 degrees, such as would be used for the floral clock behind the Scbtt statue. The plants used for the crown are the deep red foliaged Irisine, gold feather, the succulent Echeveria, the little gold turf-like arenaria and one of the New Zealand mats. Rauolia, turf, fibrous-rooted begoniasr and lobelia. The cipher— E II R —is cut out of the lawn.