ALPINE AND ROCK GARDEN SOCIETY.

Hutt News, Volume 6, Issue 48, 9 May 1934, Page 5

ALPINE AND ROCK GARDEN SOCIETY.

The N.Z. Alpine and Hock Garden Society held the Jinal outing of the season 011 Saturday, 21st April, at "Lochabar," the home of Mr and Mrs D. A. Ewen, situated on the slopes of the Western Hutt Hills at Melling. There were about 50 visitors present from Wellington and the Hutt Valley. The delightful grounds which cover several aces in extent stocked with a great variety of horticultural gems and rare plants which provided endless delight to the visitors.. Many of those j who were fortunate enough to visit this beautiful garden in the spring, found I great pleause in contrasting the golden hues of spring with" the 'beauty of the autumn tints and berries found among the trees and shrubs of this hillside garden. Climbing up the hill by well formed garden paths from terrace to terrace, until the summit is reached, one is lost in admiration of the extensive, magnificent and ever changing view presented. Inimedifltely below is the Hutt River where children were bathing in the calm of an autumn day, but what a different scene would be witnessed from the same hillside when Old Man liiver is angry and threatenin" to burst beyond his banks. There must be thrills in plenty on such occasions. Looking across to the Eastern Hills one realises what rap'd changes have taken place in the settlement of the Hutt Valley during recent years. Where those streets of houses and large factories now stand, there were but yesterday peaceful cow paddocks and market gardens. To the south we see where the Hutt River empties itself into the »ea and wonder what surprises that great estuary area holds ofr us in the next few years. Already great and important industries are established there. It is destined to be the industrial area for the Hutt Valley; maybe'for Wellington in the i'u-

ture; time will tell. Our panorama extends; and we behold the beauties of the mountain, for the great Orongorongo range lies batWe us and we can well imagine how Nature sports with us 011 those rugged cliffs during the varying ••seasons of the year, without ever a hint of monotony. Again further to our right we sec the glories of the sea, for on a clear day one's range extends far beyond the entrance to Wellington's great harbour, where interest is always to be found iu watching the ever changing light and shade and the great ships coming to O' - leaving our shores. The garden of "Lochabar" is so beautiful, that as one visitor remarked, ho would find it difficult to work amid such enchanting surroundings. The visitors were very hospitably entertained at afternoon tea by Mrs Ewcu who was assisted uy several of her fricuds ' ' !