TE KOUTU PARK

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2423, 4 December 1930, Page 5

TE KOUTU PARK

PREPARATIONS FOR SUMMER. IFINE DISPLAY OF ROSES. fVt' (By “ Rosarian. ’’) This mouth is one in which a very largo all-round display of flowers is not tc be expected. ' Many spring flowers are past their prime, or have finished blooming. This means that the beds ■have to be replenished, and, despite the most careful planning there is generally a hiatus when flowers are scarce. However, there is always something beautiful to sec in Cambridge’s lovely Tc Koutu Park. The Roses. Just now the centre of attraction in Hie Domain are the rose beds. These arc gay with an abundance of manycoloured bldoms, the fragrance of which fills the air, and the most casual stroller through the park almost invariably stops a minute to admire the roses. The roses have boon well cared for, and give a wealth of bloom, but without being too critical, I would like to make .oue or two suggestions for improvement. The heavy border round the .small beds might well be removed, as . .they are rather out of place, and their (presence must absorb much of the nourishment that should go to the roses, fivhich are rank feeders. I A few of the roses that have proved '•bad doers” might well be replaced with better sorts. Good roses can bo procured for a very small sum, and it •would cost but little to keep the rose beds more up-to-date, and well stocked with good flowering sorts. Might I suggest that names be affixed to roses wherever possible. This /applies to other plants and shrubs. Visitors to the Park would appreciate the naming, which would add much to the interest and educational value of the Park. The tall standard roses in. the rose section are, in the writer’s opinion, a poor selection as regards colours and floriferousness. For such purposes roses should bo selected that will,give a good bright (display over a long period. While the present standards include some recognised good sorts, quite a number are of insipid colours,, and others arc shy bloomers. The two rows of standards at the north of the top bowling green are noticeable for these defects, and are not at all a good advertisement for the domain. Calceolarias. Wjjhe display of giant calceolarias, head'gardener’s cottage, is a Vsry fine one. These quaint, beautiful flokvers .make an attractive display, thau lias been much admired during the past i few weeks. '■ The Borders. Several of the flower borders, especially near the Totunda and also near the southern entrance to the Park, are -very gay with flowers, among which the gorgeous orange calendulas make a riot of colour that always catches the ■eye. The nemesias, pansies, daisies, antirrhinums, etc., also make a fine show. New Beds. Quito a number of flower beds utc bare at present, awaiting new bedding plants, which are now being planted. There is a fairly good stock of seedlings in the glasshouse and frames, ready for planting out, and the gardeners are having a busy time in getting these into their new quarters. Wc notice that there is a specially large lot of salvias (bonfire) ready for bedding purposes. These do particularly well in Cambridge, and always make an attractive display. . j • 1 The New Gardener. The new head gardener (Mr Withers) has scarcely got settled down to \ the new conditions as yet, but he is an Jerithusiast as well as an efficient gur'■'clcner, and we may safely look forward to some innovations in the near futu e and a wealth of bloom in the late summer and autumn.