CIVIC GARDENS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19802, 29 May 1926, Page 19

CIVIC GARDENS.

AT IT.MX ACT ITITIES. A WELL-STOCKED TUMSCOT SELDOM VISITED. Ve.-hM'd-iy was a fine dav and the retvwve.' department men, who play such an important pad in making our city beautiful, were able to go ahead again with many activities suspended dining the spell ot wet weal her. Out at Bathgate I’.uk a good hard surface is being put on a somewhat boggy road to the pavilion there. All the geraniums have been removed from the beds in the Octagon, and yesterday they were replaced bv asupply of wallflower. The Woodhaugh Gardens have always a great natural beauty and unspoilt charm of their own. The children's playground is most attractive, and is set in surroundings that provide endless delight ,0 fbo artistic eye. One of the ponds is somewhat overgrown at pre-ent, and the superintendent. of reserves (Mr D. lannock) is contemplating solving the problem of cleaning it out by transferring the Capa Darren geese from the Botanical Gardens there for a time. Their fondness for green stuff is expected to lead to a speedy clearance The old pagoda house that ; was given bv the Chinese at the time of the visit of the Prince of Males has now’ fully served its term, and it is satisfactory to learn (hat it is to he replaced shortly bv the stand used bv Thomson and Co. at the Exhibition. One of the improvements that strikes tho eye of the visitor to the Botanical Gardens is the large number of substantial garden seats about. There are 100 of these, which were given by Messrs H. E. Khnoklock and Co. to the Exhibition and afterwards to the Gardens; They are mostly grouped about the bandstand at. pre-ent, but will by degrees he scattered about in suitable positions, particularly on the hillside above the stream. The ponds just now are crowded with wild duck, which since tho beginning of tho shooting season, driven by a mysterious but unerring instinct, have sought their safety in this sanctuary. They disport themselves there boldly in the daytime without a sign of fear, and at nightfall rise and flv away socking other haunts over the hills. The beds which wore so long pay with dahlias and antirrhinums have all boon dug over and planted with daffodils, anemones and wallflowers for the soring. Over in the rock garden the cotoneaster, a native of North Western China, is showing brilliant autumn tints, Tho native shrubs at tho back of tbe rock garden have flourished greatly and have now attained considerable size. Workmen are busy on the footpath alongship. Lindsay's Creek right to Dnndas street and arc giving it a good coating of screenings and putting it in order generally. L p tho hill away to the left towards Knox College a new curving natb i« being opened up that will load to the vicinity of the Tea Kiosk. Tbe task is in the hand? of returned soldiers who are doing very good work. Tiio path will open up many new and most pleasing prospects. On the hillside immediately above tbe bandstand a certain amount of thinning out is to be done co that visitors may watch the band and the crowds gathered below. Quite the least known part of the Gardens is the extensive arboretum on the hiil slope above the Opoho road. Tne now path will lead right, through it. A carriage drive flanked by noble trees was planned here long ago. _ The trees are thriving and a motor drive may yet. be formed along this route. The arboretum will not make a very popular appeal because most people know so little of tho trees that are there, but when they have al! been clearly named wider public interest may bo expected. Merely to name the species gives an idea of the extent and variety of this collection. There are the giant redwoods (sequoia 'sempervirens) and the sequoia gigantea, trees which grow to be tho largest known in the One ot the sempervirens was cut for tho Exhibition and the young shoots have come a"iiy from (ho stump with great vigour. There are groves of fine sturdy yellow- pines, oaks. gums, hawthorns, Douglas (irs, Japanese cryptomcrias, groves of cedars, spruces and pines in bewildering variety, the thuya orientalis. Canary Island juniper, deodars, manukas, a very fine specimen of pieea neetirata, nordmnnianas, VS idderingtoni VVhytii, from Kenya, which flourishes n n the slope? of Kilimanjaro, juniper, from Uganda, cupreous, she oak, pittosporum limes, planes, ashes, beeches, birdies, a totara. grove, Lebanon cedar and many another. One area, high up the hill, is given over to Australian trees and there may be found tbe Tasmanian manuka, a wonderful variety of gums, Banksia, wattles, bottlebrush, the Australian pme (cailistris), Tasnfanian sassafras and so forth. With such a variety of material at hand it is not to be wondered at that one of Mr Tannock’s dream? i? to have a timber museum at the Gardens where specimens of nil the timbers grown there may be preserved and displayed. On the main path up to the rhododendrons the scarlet berries of the Chinese berberis are making a most brilliant display just now. Belated lupino and antirrhinums still lend their colour to the picture. While tho Chinese berberis are red, those from Nepaul, India, make a sharp contrast with their deep blue. The cotonenstcrs in the same border make a fine show of autumn colouring. , , The latest development in the rhododendron garden is the planting of scarlet oaks in one part and of cherries in another to provide tile overgrowth so desirable for these plants, whose native habitat is high in the mountain air. The effect of these beautiful trees in combination with tho rhododendrons is something to look forward to in the coming spring. The rhododendron beds are being extended in various directions. In the azalea garden the polyanthus are making a wonderfully bright autumn display Roses are not all past, yet, and may stid be enjoyed individually, if not in the mass in their beds on the flat. Chrysanthemums are making their bitr_ display in the winter gardens. The single varieties banked back in the house whore the iily pond was are now practically at their best, and arc not only lovely to but give off a very pleasing perfume. The great double blooms in all their wealth of variety are just coniine to pcrfortion in the creonlinuse. Opposite them is a very charming collection of primulas. In the orchid house there are a number of wonderful and quaint blooms to be seen just now, and the eypripedium insigne, or lady's slipper, have combined to make the finest display of orchid flowers yet seen [ at the orchid house- The outride chrysanthemum beds near tho Ca-tle street entrance are making a strikingly handsome display of massed colours.