THE D.L.F. GARDEN PARTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 103

THE D.L.F. GARDEN PARTY.

By Happy- Wag.

In last week's Otago Witness Dot announced that all L.F. in town during the Show Week were invited to assemble at the club room at 10 o'clock on Friday morning, and a party would then be made up to go to the Botanical Gardens, for the purpose of strengthening the bonds of friendship and spending a pleasant time together. So . when the time daily arrived l about 20 L.F. were present, and after several introductions were made, a start was made to carry out the morning's arrangements. It was the intention of the party to take a Castle street oar as far as the Gardens, but owing to some cause 01 ither it did not condescend to stop for us, so we had to walk to Princes street and get a car to the rendezvous from there. After a few minutes' run we were all landed safe at the main entrance of the Gardens, and the party divided into groups to see what was to be seen. Dot left the group for a few minutes and emerged from a neighbouring pastrycook's with a bag of cakes in one hand for the children, and in the

other «. bag of buns to feed the ducks and swans. Thus equipped wo wandered on. The first place of any interest was the duck pond. This is ir circular enclosure with a pond of water, in which were hundreds of teal and grey ducks, in various stages of tameness. It was very amusing to see the young ducks trying their best to snatch a piece of bun from their neighbours, and doing their best to get as many pieces as possible. There were also two fine specimens of white swans in this same pond, and during the time the ducks were the centre of attractior they managed by some instinct to know that there was a good thing on, for they put in their appearance, and managed to get some morsels of the repast. Leaving the ducks and swans to settle among themselves, w© then followed the path leading to the place reserved for the emus. From particulars gained since my visit I learn that one of these birds has been there in captivity for the last 20 years, while the other is a more recent addition, having been placed there about six years ago. The native shrubbery was the next place of inspection. Included in the shrubbery is the fernery, one of the prettiest places in the Gardens. The fernery is divided into two parts, the outer and inner fernery. The outer is the more exposed, and is used for growing the harder and larger varieties of ferns, such as the familiar tree and bracken fern. The inner fernery is made to resemble Nature as closely as possible, for the light is very dull and the atmosphere very wet; in fact you would think you had suddenly been transported to the heart of the bash. Here the rarer varieties are to be found growing in profusion on the rooks and on the sides of stumps placed there on purpose. From the fernery we then proceeded to the place specially reserved for the various varieties of native and imported birds. The pheasants attracted the most attention, especially the " Phasianus colehicus," or golden pheasant. This is a very gaudy-plumaged bird, having about six distinct colours, and is imported from China and Japan. Its neighbour, the " Phasianus pictue," has only three colours, and lis also a native from the East. The English pheasant, or " Phasianus colehicus." is familiar to most of us, and is the one we hear most about. In this same enclosure were wekas ducks, swans, and one fallow deer. The Winter Gardens were next visited, and I cons.der them the most interesting of any I have yet seen. The display of chrysanthemums ■was very much admired, and it would be a difficult matter for a novice to tell how many different shades could be counted. The hundreds of pot plants, both native and foreign, would take a column to describe. The greatest interest was taken in the fruits on the pineapple, orange, and lemon bushes. Space forbids the description of all the varied a.nd beautiful plants I saw during the few minutes I was in the Gardens, and I trust that thoss L.F. who made up the party appreciated the trip as much as I did. A short climb up Cemetery Hill was then made, where the roll was called, and then the party made preparations for home. The Castle street car was caught, and in due course we were all landed at the Monument, each one to go his or her way till 2-p.m. when further interesting events would take place. Of those who went to the Gardens with us, I remember the following names: Dot, Scotch Heather, Nightingale, Nidding Ned, Countess Okuma, Blue Rocket. Qu*?enit 11. Lavinia, Topsv, Kruger. W.W.L.L., Hazelstick, Handy Andy, Happy Wag, Indian Chief, Harry, Lady Grey, Star, White Rose, P.P.C., and three children.