Trip Reports: December 2023
3 December 2023 - Auckland Botanic Gardens
Forty eager walkers set out on a grey drizzly morning, with much worse weather threatened, for our last walk of the year.
The Auckland Botanic Gardens was our destination, and we arrived there around 9am. We were all given a Christmas “sweet treat” and a drink to pop in our packs for later (thanks to the Committee!)
The Auckland Botanic Gardens was our destination, and we arrived there around 9am. We were all given a Christmas “sweet treat” and a drink to pop in our packs for later (thanks to the Committee!)
Around 9.30 am, Sharleen took us to the foyer of the Library and gave us an interesting introductory talk on the background of the Gardens and some of the work that happens in the areas of conservation, research and education.
One amazing fact was that there are just under ONE MILLION visitors to the Gardens each year!
Around 9.30 am, Sharleen took us to the foyer of the Library and gave us an interesting introductory talk on the background of the Gardens and some of the work that happens in the areas of conservation, research and education.
One amazing fact was that there are just under ONE MILLION visitors to the Gardens each year!
From here we moved on to see the Edible Garden.
At the entrance is a twenty-year-old Japanese Raisin Tree, hovenia dulcis, tall and healthy. This tree can be used to cure a hangover! Traditional Chinese medicine has used it for centuries but modern science now suggests it may have potential for treating Alzheimers, Parkinsons, osteoporosis, liver cancer and diabetes.
It was interesting to see the variety of plants in this garden, and surprising how many flowers are edible.
At the entrance is a twenty-year-old Japanese Raisin Tree, hovenia dulcis, tall and healthy. This tree can be used to cure a hangover! Traditional Chinese medicine has used it for centuries but modern science now suggests it may have potential for treating Alzheimers, Parkinsons, osteoporosis, liver cancer and diabetes.
It was interesting to see the variety of plants in this garden, and surprising how many flowers are edible.
At 10am we gave people the option to go on a forest walk or to see some more of the specialist garden areas. There were 9 in the Garden group with Sharleen and 31 opted to do the Puhinui Stream Forest Trail through to Totara Park with Sandra and Barbara.
The forest walkers traversed the Gardens to the entrance to the forest walk, and followed a stream through delightful bush with lots of nikau. Looking up was a neck-stretching exercise, as there were many very tall trees reaching to the sky with their leafy canopies.
After passing through the Totara Park centre, we retraced our steps and returned to the Gardens along the same path we had gone out on, enjoying the scenery in reverse.
Meantime the Garden group had a relaxing walk starting at the award-winning Threatened Native Plants Garden, looking at a couple of Three Kings Islands plants brought back from extinction in the wild, and on through the colourful Perennials to the Native Plant Ideas area.
We admired the creative and modern landscaping ideas, including the quirky Japanese cloud pruning of our totara, Matapouri Blue.
Next through the Urban Trees area, smaller trees for Auckland gardens. A wee talk about the amazing gingko biloba, the oldest living tree species in the world, and the beautiful purple leaves of the forest pansy tree, Cercis Canadensis. A quick walk through the Rose Gardens and into the shelter of the maze of Camellias and Magnolias Garden pathways before exiting through Spring Blossom Valley.
We admired the creative and modern landscaping ideas, including the quirky Japanese cloud pruning of our totara, Matapouri Blue.
Next through the Urban Trees area, smaller trees for Auckland gardens. A wee talk about the amazing gingko biloba, the oldest living tree species in the world, and the beautiful purple leaves of the forest pansy tree, Cercis Canadensis. A quick walk through the Rose Gardens and into the shelter of the maze of Camellias and Magnolias Garden pathways before exiting through Spring Blossom Valley.
Can You Spot The Monkey?
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The two groups came back together for lunch in the Children’s Garden area, where there was a bit of cover from the light rain. Then there was a free hour for our members to wander around areas of the Garden that they hadn’t already seen. The Gardens were a riot of colour and we could appreciate all the work that the staff and volunteers do in keeping everything so well cared for. At 2pm we were all back in the Visitor Centre and that was when the rain increased in intensity, so the decision was made to head to the bus. We felt very lucky, as if we’d dodged a bullet, in view of the weather forecast. Most of our visit had been carried out in light rain conditions. |
Metrosideros excelsa -
Pohutukawa -
New Zealand Christmas tree
And so our year ends …..
Roll on 2024 and some better weather for our Natural History Club walks.
A big thanks to all those who have contributed to this year’s programme, whether planning or leading.
In spite of the weather challenges, we have had a great year.
Thanks to Sandra, Barbara & Sharleen for this interesting day in the Gardens.
And a special thanks to the 40 walkers who didn't let the weather get in the way of boarding the bus!
Text: Sandra and Sharleen
Photos: Barbara, Linda and Sue