ENJOY YOUR GARDEN

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

ENJOY YOUR GARDEN

Spend the Leisure Hours of Daylight with the Flowers

I do not mean to suggest that trees should not be grown in the town. Unfortunately, so few town gardens are large enough for more than one or two trees. However, I hope that gardens in town or country will find something in these notes to suit their particular requirements. '

When I think of trees, my mind just wanders into the country. I turn in through a gate and drive an avenue of trees to the comfortable home, again set in a background of trees. As we settle down for a chat on the sunny verandah, I arn reminded of the fact that this family grew up with the trees. We naturally start talking about our favourites; the happy picnics beneath the huge puriri and what father said and did when Jack pinched the top off the Norfolk Island Pine; and how wonderful the tree, determined to grow tall and straight, sent up a side branch to take the place of the main stem. “Do you remember,” 1 ask, “the wonderful house we made of nikau fronds?” It took days to make, and mother came down and thought we were very clever; but when father saw the poor nikau palms resembling a nudist colony, he was not impressed. Yes, I think father would have been a great help to any forestry society. Well I remember how we planted trees on our fifth birthday. I planted the rhododendrons and Jack planted an apple tree, because he never could get enough apples.

They say that deciduous trees arc untidy, but in the autumn I just love to go out with a rake and collect the leaves as they come tumbling to the ground—such a feast of colour, and such food for plants that must have leaf mould. The bare branches are very beautiful against the sky: and I like the sun shining through on the carpet of daffodils. And again I ask “Do you remember when Aunt Jean came over from Australia and refused

Trees for the Country Garden

to admire our native plants, and cur gardens generally? How she talked of

the wonderful acacias, gums, flame

trees, etc., planted in her garden?” Our garden had so little colour compared with an Australian garden. Of course we did not agree, but when aunt l&ft us we quietly looked up catalogues. So now in early December I think how proud Aunt "Jean would be if she could only see the line of jacarandas in bloom or again in January, the scarlet gums. How beautiful the ground looks when the lavender blue blossoms fall about the hydrangeas planted beneath!

This charming old garden has just a few flowers as a trimming about the house, with daffodils, etc., that are allowed to take up their thirty or ffcrty feet necessary for the spread of their branches. Then smaller trees and shrubs to fill in the spaces. Yet there are colour, true beauty and changes throughout the year. How lovely the golden leaves of the ginkgo look alongside the rich green of the holly, and the bright red leaves of rhus succedanea. I believe my favourite spot

is the gentle slope where-the scarlet oak, maples and silver birch grow above the Japanese maples, rhododendrons and azaleas. The phoenix canadensis, the lovely palm standing in the centre of a semi-circular lawn has many admirers. Well I remember when this was planted. Some of the family fancied a weeping elm. Of course, conifers are not forgotten. Their neat smart appearance throughout the year makes them necessary in every plantation. The upright cypress standing out against the bare wall of the house makes a good .finish.. The golden-leaved form of cypress gives light to a dark colouring. Our own native conifers, rimu, kauri, kawaka, etc., are freely planted in the native plant section on the colder south-west side of the house.

An old favourite of mine is the huge camphor laurel that stands just where the drive meets the plantation surrounding the house. Beneath this tree is a favourite resting place for the tired workers on a hot summer day. The new growth is quite reddish and the glossy leaves are attractive throughout the. vear.

The beautiful pink horse chestnut aesculus rubra, is another favourite. Others are liquid amber, copper beech and, of course, many shrubs so often mentioned.

Down by the stream the arum lilies . grow beneath the willows, poplars and kowhais. The golden poplar has lately been planted. It is a great acquisition. The light yellow leaves are attractive during the summer months.

The flax (phormium) in the variegated bronze, as well as the usual form, are also planted by the stream. Altogether, this is a favourite place for the tuis.

I could go on and on as rny mind wanders to other gardens, but space is limited. I hope you have met an old favourite with me in this fine old garden. Onions The time is approaching for the planting of main crop onions, and it is well to get the soil in good order for the planting. Onions like sunshine, good drainage and a good supply of nitrogenous manure, such as compost or well-rot-ted animal manure. Give them a piece of ground to themselves as they are unsociable plants. Keep them away from hedges or other hungry vegetation, as onions are not great fighters. Also keep the bed weeded.

In preparing the bed, do not dig the manure in deep; from 2 to 4in is enough. I fthis work fs done now, and the bed smoothed off, and periodically lightly hoed, spring weeds will not be so much trouble later. At time of planting, work in a liberal dtisting of super.