THE GARDEN CITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 7 October 1942, Page 4

THE GARDEN CITY

NELSON’S RESERVES SPRING MORNING IMPRESSIONS MANY BEAUTY SPOTS The terraced slopes of the Church Hill were warm and green and from the rocky walls peeped tiny flowers of every colour from the deepest gentian blue to the palest pink of the clematis clambering over the stones. It was a perfect spring morning, and down where the tulips lifted their proud pink heads a gardener was mowing the lawn. The sweet, fresh smell of the newly-cut grass, and the steady, drowsy whirr of the mower Rave an added emphasis to the tranquillity and beauty of the spot. The strife and noisy bluster of mod rn life could not be part of this quiet little world. And yet, just around the corner, the bustling activity of a busy town was proceeding with the usual clatter. Nelson is fortunate indeed in the number and variety of its beautiful parks and reserves where one may go and sit quietly resting and, perhaps, forgetting for a while the troubles of the world to-day. The Church Hill"being so central, is a favourite spot and is looking particularly pretty just now. The rhododendrons by the steps, which were so bright a few weeks ago, have passed their best, but on the western side the banks of azaleas will soon be a blaze of colour. Round the foot of the hill the neat flower beds are becoming brighter as tulips, wallflowers, iceland poppies and early annuals come into bloom. Higher up the slopes the flowering shrubs and the kowhais, happy playground of the tuis, stand against a background of those giant blue-gum trees of which Nelsonians are so justly proud. NOW AN OPEN PARK At the southern end of Trafalgar street is the Old Cemetery w-hich in recent years has been transformed into an open park, with a sweeping grassy slope dotted with trees and shrubs. Old tombstones remaining there give glimpses of early Nelson history. The former damp and untidy corner of the Old Cemetery in Van Dieman street has been drained and cleared, and here has been planted a Rhododendron Dell. Many fine specimens are now coming into bloom, or would do so if left alone by vandals. It was a pity to see young, healthy shrubs with the whole centres broken out of them and five or six branches torn off small rhododendron bushes, despoiled, apparently, just to satisfy the wilful destructive instincts of some wanton person. WIGZELL GARDENS On then to Wigzell Gardens, the newest of Nelson’s reserves, whose name tells of the generosity of a worthy citizen. There on the open sunny slope of lawn, gardeners were busy mowing the grass and planting out seedlings which before long would make such blazing patches of colour against the cool fresh green of the broad lawn. Roses do well in this park and there were several rose-beds which should be very beautiful in the summer. Many lovely flowering fruit trees, particularly flowering apples . have been planted here and also smaller ornamental flowering shrubs. On the shady side to the north of the gardens a long row of polyanthus, all fine blooms, made a colourful border. The wide driveway through the garden has now been paved with a covering of crushed brick, introducing an effective note of warm colour.

Anzac Park with its palm-fringed walk is another park which, being so close to the town, has always been a popular spot since its transformation from mudflat. Now that the kowhai* there have nearly finished flowering, the wallflowers form almost the only bright display at present, but soon the formal beds of tulips will be seen in all their glory once more. Last year a large bed of tall yellow tulips, rising from a frothy sea of blue forget-me-nots made a picture of loveliness well worth a special visit, and a similar bed may shortly be seen again. QUEEN’S GARDENS The beauty of the perfectly shaped magnolia trees in the Queen’s Gardens and the heavy fragrance of their scent has for the past few weeks been much remarked upon by passers-by. The formal rose-beds set about the fountain in the centre of this reserve are in pleasing contrast with the treeferns and native trees growing in a natural thick bank of green to the edge of the lake on the western side of the gardens. The swans on the lake, the ducks, always ready to cluster round to receive crumbs and biscuits, and the fascinating goldfish in the fountain pools make this park a great attraction to children, many of whom go there to play or to sail their small boats on the waters of the pond. MAITAI BANKS Nearby flows the quiet Maitai river by grassy banks, now neatly mown and planted with flowering trees, shrubs, and the majestic palms which abound in Nelson. In the last few years the vast improvements which have been effected in beautifying the banks of the Maitai have made it an even mor« popular walk than in bygone days. In the bend of a street, in a deserted corner, on any grassy slope by the side of a road, there is almost certain to be found some attempt to brighten and beautify. By urging the removal of untidy fences, by planting creeper* or cover trees round unsightly or dilapidated buildings, and by encouraging the planting of street frontages in lawns and ornamental trees, the Superintendent of Reserves (Mr A. White* is striving to make Nelson a veritable garden city. NATIVE SECTION In recent years a new and interesting section of reserve has been developed with the planting of a native section at the Botanical reserve. Young native trees, shrubs and ferns of all descriptions are flourishing in the natural surroundings of a sheltered gully at the foot of the hill. This has been transformed into a most attractive corner with grass-bordered paths and steps, and rough-hewn logs making rustic seats. A fairy-tale touch is brought to this quiet spot when a visitor, crossing a rustic bridge, comes suddenly upon the Wishing Well. By the fern-clad banks, where the fantails dart, the paths wander through the native plantation upwards, by an easy grade to the lop of the hill where stands the trig station, widely credited with marking the survey centre of New Zealand. Underfoot the path i* softly strewn with pine needles from the tall old pine trees growing on the sheer slopes of the hillside. Many of these trees are now being cut down for utilitarian reasons, and the hill looks scarred and ugly where they have fallen, but that condition will be changed in due course, according to present plans.

There is surely no more lovely sight on a clear spring morning than that to be seen from the very top of this hill. Standing on the hill-top where daffodils grow* wild, one gazes beyond where the town lies cradled in the gorse-clad hills. Over the still, silver w’ater of Tasman Bay, the mountains, snow'-cap-ped, rise in a line of deeper blue against the clear blue of the sky. Here one feels privileged to have «ome small part in this world of beauty.