Fine Appearance of Public Gardens Draws Favourable Comment

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26852, 17 August 1948, Page 3

Fine Appearance of Public Gardens Draws Favourable Comment

NORTH OTAGO NEWS

It is many years since the Oamaru Public Gardens, renowned throughout New Zealand for their beauty, have been in better condition and the large crowd present at the first municipal concert of the season of the Oamaru Garrison Band on Sunday fully appreciated the pleasant surroundings. During recent months a considerable amount of .clean-ing-up work, which largely lapsed during the war years because of staff shortages, has been carried out, and many complimentary remarks on the general appearance of the Gardens have been made to the superintendent, Mr John Tait. When approached by the Daily Times, Mr Tait said the staff was concentrating on cleaning-up work in view of the royal visit next year. '

At the present time many thousands of plants are being propagated in the hot, cool and cold houses, and it is hoped to have these on display in time for the royal visit. An experiment is being carried out with Golden Irish Yews, which are being treated with various plant hormones now on sale. Hollyhock seedlings are just showing their way through. Always looking ahead, Mr Tait has several varieties of cyclamen and orchids in the hot house, and it is expected these will be in bloom next year. Fuchsia and native shrubs, which will be incorporated in the summer scheme are'also in the hothouse and will be ready for transplanting in the near future. Fibrous begonias of the Indian Maid variety are in the propagating period, and when finally on show should create wide interest, as no other organisation in the South Island is interesting itself in this variety. Many strangers to the town visit the Gardens annually and admire their beauty, but one or two plants always call for special comment. The begonias are in this category, and at the present time pendula or basket begonias are being propagated, and it is hoped to have one of the best displays ever seen in Oamaru during the summer months. A few years ago 18 begonia tumas were imported from England and so far 120 plants have been propagated from these. Many hundreds of begonias were on display at the Centennial Flower Show at Dunedin, and created wide interest amongst horticulturists from all parts of the Dominion. A gloxinia in full bloom is to be seen in the hothouse, and some of Mr Douglas Reid’s choice dahlias from which cuttings will be taken for the Gardens and the Phoenix Bowling Club, are doing well. An experiment is being carried out with azaleas in an endeavour to have these in flower six to eight weeks before those grown outside. No other settled district in the South Island is growing such a number of cannas or Indian Shot as can be seen at the present time in the cold house. These were transplanted to the front entrance to the Gardens last .year and created much interest. The outside work has gone ahead steadily, and an excellent job has been made of the dais at the western end of the .band rotunda lawn.

These have been trimmed back, and it is obvious from the well-matured trees that this species, from vtfhich valuable building material is obtained, would grow to advantage in North Otago if planted in the right locality. All the trees along this drive have been trimmed and this portion is well worth visiting. The approach to the top lawn has been enhanced by' cutting back several trees. The grass tennis courts are looking particularly well and should be in good order for the opening of the season. Undoubtedly these lawns are an asset to the Gardens and to Oamaru as a whole.

Some fine specimens of Oregon can be seen along the back drive of the Gardens.

An experiment which has proved highly successful has been the planting of crocuses on the bank of the stream, and this new innovation is particularly pleasing to the eye. Wonderland is a picture of beauty, with its snowdrops and heather flowering in profusion. The chestnut lawn and area adjacent to the fernery is also looking' well. The most attractive portion of the Gardens at present is the area just inside the main gate. Variety of colour is provided principally by the prunus Mume, of which there are three varieties. These are situated along the railway drive. Four Australian wattles, two along the railway drive, one by the Japanese • bridge and one by the superintendent’s residence, are a mass of bloom, and thousands of flowering crocuses give added variety to the well-kept appearance of the Gardens at the present time.