Unconventional gardens

Press, 17 February 1978, Page 12

Unconventional gardens

Sir, — In no way do I decry the gardens which won awards in the recent competition for gardens as seen from the street. They are truly outstanding and represent many hours of hard work and dedication. However, I somehow think that the beauty of Christchurch gardens should be judged for their year-round effect, not by the transitory images of razor edge rows of imported French marigolds, not a sod out of place, and manicured lawns — gardens which are here today and gone tomorrow. I wonder if a garden with large trees could only win a prize if the trees were chopped down and replaced with the squares and rectangles of five centimetre alyssum. 20 centimere

petunias, and removable three metre shrubs. The Beautifying Association has an award for an unconventional garden. How is an unconventional garden, which adds to the beauty of Christchurch, defined? — Yours, etc., ALAN FALLOON. February 10, 1978.

[Mr R. A. Proctor, convener of the Beautifying Association’s garden competition sub-committee, replies: “We appreciate your correspondent’s interest in the association’s competition. His interesting observations would have been valid some years ago. However, I challenge his statement that these gardens are not judged for their year-rouna effect. Under our updated pointing system emphasis is on permanency. Transient gardens are not encouraged. Many winning gardens have large trees and, as a fervent treelover, I would be dismayed if ‘removable 3 metre shrubs’ featured in these properties. The winner of the premier award, at 7 Clarendon Terrace, is an excellent example of well balanced gardens we like to encourage: trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and lawns. Our definition of unconventional gardens is ‘that a major portion of the garden shall be of a type such as scree, pebble, courtyard, patio, wall or walled, Japanese style’.”] Abortions in Australia Sir, —- Perhaps it would be fair to say in reply to Lillian Carr’s comment (February 16) that 7800 women a year will have followed their >'ndividual consciences, in spite of New Zealand’s repressive and inhumane law, as desperate women have always done, and will continue to do. For 7800 lives you need 7800 mothers willing, able, and mature enough for the serious task of providing the necessities needed to bring

up a happy healthy child. Having given birth, the mothers’ circumstances do not magically alter. Their fears of their inability to cope are more likely to become a reality. All the wonderful help and support promised is far more likely to be more emotional distortion of the facts. — Yours, etc., JOYCE EVENDEN. February 16, 1978.