THE GARDENS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 11

THE GARDENS.

WINTER ACTIVITIES. This is the natural time of year for cleaning up and tidying reserves and gardens, and the City Council’s reserves department has a great deal of such work in hand just now. This work is well suited to many of those who at the present time are out of employment and the department has already done something to meet the prevailing unemployment crisis by engaging a considerable number of them. At a matter of fact there is always a certain amount of tidying up to be done about the reserves, and practically the only limit to the engaging of men it that imposed by the amount of money available. A dozen men still remain of the returned soldiers who arc paid out of the Poppy Day fund, and they are doing good steady work at the Gardens. They are keen workers, and often carry on in weather that would send most labourers indoors. The ground among the rhododendrons in Wallace street, opposite Mr C. P. M. Butterworth’s residence, has just been dug over, and there is cleaning and burning going on about Heriot Row. At the spot where Quoen street comes down very steeply on to Duke street a small team of men was engaged yesterday moving large japonioas tor replanting by the new walk that has just been opened up in the Gardens. A couple of the unemployed men were working among these. The chairman of the Reserves Committee (Cr Hancock) and the superinten-

dent of reserves (Mr D. Tannock) yesterday visited the area in the North East Valley purchased front Mr Jonathay Rhodes and at present being used as a tip by the works department. It lies to the hill side of Lindsay’s Creek, just below the North East Valle*- tennis courts, and extends for some four acres, mostly up the hill. It does not look very attractive for a children’s playground in its present condition, but there are undoubtedly good possibilities in the site, which is almost in the centre of a thickly populated residential area. It is evident that sooner or later the property will have to be protected by a wall round the bend of Lindsay’s Creek, which takes a sharp turn at this point. Substantial new gates and iron railings at the Opolio entrance to the Upper Gardens are almost completely in position, and will greatly improve the attractiveness of this approach. Hosts of celmisias are flourishing in the beds by the upper boundary fence, and one of the beds has just been turned over and is being prepared for the reception of moro which have been promised. The grass on the lawn by the tea kiosk is beginning to come away nicely. The new path up from the back of the rockery to the tea kiosk is well on towards completion, and it is going to open up most effectively a large part of the Gardens of the existence of which very few people have been aware. There is indeed, a surprisingly large area over by the Opoho road which is capable of development in many directions. At present some of it is still covered with rough undergrowth, and the rest has on it the foundations of a most interesting arboretum. In addition to the main path leading from the rockery to the kiosk, there are several branch paths, all of which have the effect of opening'up the new area and adding to its interest. One leads up between the big pines and the holly maze, another goes out to the Opoho road at a point where it will be temptingly convenient for Knox College students, and a third cuts the main path at right angles, and leads down to the bridge and the direct path in from the main gates at the North East Valley corner. Some 18 of the recently unemployed men—one of them has a family of six ' and arrived here only six weeks ago—are at work on the upper part of the path cleaning away scrub and undergrowth from the slope towards the road. They have also made on the upper side of the Path a wide bed that is being planted with dogwoods (cornus Sanguinia). which have*bright red stems in the winter and pretty autumn tints, and nicely contrasting golden willows. Yellow violas may also be planted as a carpet there later. Lower down a border containing 25 different varieties of japonicas has just been planted. All the way down it this track, which for the most part follows the old Opoho road, opens up delightful vistas of open glades which will be varied and further beautified in time to come with shrubberies grouped here and there. The paths hereabouts have been freshly screened all the way from Dundas street, practically to Opoho and are very pleasant to walk upon. The flower borders that flank the wide straight path to the left of the main entrance to the Gardens have been turned over in preparation for spring planting and the Sweet William next the Shakespeare garden is already in. Tenders lmve now been called for the removal of the fernery and aquarium from Logan Park, and preparations arp well in hand for its erection alongside the present Winter Gardens. It measures 100 ft by GOft., and thus will nearly double the available covered space which at the present time in all the sections of the Winter Gardens is onlv 6600 ft. The fish ponds will be kept in the fernery. To make room for this splendid new building the irises have been moved from their old beds, and are all being concentrated over towards the Leith. One of the ponds has also to be filled in A door is to be made in the present fernery, and another in the middle of the wall of the tropic house, and this will enable the visitor to circle right through the different houses. The ferns will be transferred from the old fernery to the new one, and the old one will be used as a second greenhouse for a display of colour, a development that is certain to be greatly appreciated by visitors. - The display in the greenhouse at the present time is being made by primulas and cinerarias. The primulas are there in great beauty and delicacy of colour. The cinerarias are already strikingly handsome hi their rich colouring and amazing variety of form, but there are many more to open out yet. The wonderful way in which the possibilities of this flower have recently been developed by horticulturists cannot fail to impress the most casual observer. In the orchid houße there is a number of strange and peculiarly beautiful blooms t> be seen. Cypripediums continue to make a brave show, ns they have been doing for months past. Among many striking and noteworthy plants to catch the eye of the visitor in the palm houses and the tropic house are the date palms, poinsettias, with their brilliant scarlet breasts, a red euphorbia on the roof, lovely basket begonias, .Cape violets, grapefruit, and blllbergias (which belong to the pineapple family). Outside the yellow winter-flowering yio’a makes a number of beds gay with' its bright colour. Not a few belated roses are still to be seen. The novelty roses have now almost all been planted in their bed. A lot of digging over of beds and E runing of shrubs is goimr on. The corner y the bridge over the Leith from Castle street has lately been greatly improved. The blowing down of an old wattle tree gave the opportunity. The background has been filled in with choice shrubs, and bulbous irises are occupying the foreground. The bulbs in Ihe lawn are beginning to peep through, and soon that area will have to r>e fenced off from trampling feet. The signs of another important addition to the amenities of the Gardens are in evidence. Preparations are under wav for the erection of the women's rest room from Logan Park near the main entrance. The grouni is being cleared and there is every reason to believe that it will not be long before the comforts of this muchneeded institution are available for the women and children of the community. It it evident indeed that a great advance in the development of the Gardes in many directions is in progress, and before the year is out citizens will have greater reason than ever before to be proud of this asset of the city.