Report by Lesley Tuffley
On a sunny windless mid-spring morning, with everywhere fresh and sparkling after overnight rain, five of us met at the Botanic Gardens Kiosk to visit the Heritage Rose Garden, which is adjacent to the new hospital building on the Riccarton Avenue side of the daffodil woodland.
Walking to the roses took longer than intended. First, we stopped to photograph a family of putangitangi (Paradise ducks) and some Japanese water irises at the Rock Garden pond, then explored the photographic possibilities of the flowering alpine plants nestling among the mounds of basalt rocks and Halswell stone.
On our way from there to the bridge we were further delayed by a posse of putangitangi ducklings. Surprisingly, they appeared to be unaccompanied, darting this way and that to peck at the grass. Gradually they advanced towards us and our cameras, while we kept as still as possible. Eventually the parents arrived, seemingly relaxed, obviously accustomed to people.
Once over the river we reached the Heritage Rose Garden with no further distractions. According to the signboard, Heritage Roses are those that existed before the first hybrid tea rose was introduced in 1867. They are the Old Garden Roses, richly perfumed and mostly with large full heads. This garden is not extensive, but it is a lovely place in which to wander, delighting in the fragrances as well as photographing both the roses and the various other plants growing among them.
Not in the rose garden itself, but nearby, are a mosaic chair and ottoman painstakingly made by volunteers over the course of more than a year, using broken china donated by people after the Christchurch earthquakes – a little bit of heritage themselves. From the outside edge of the garden look towards the river and you’ll spot them among the trees.
We ended a thoroughly enjoyable morning at the Ilex Café, sitting outside in the company of hopeful ducks and sparrows. Thank you, Jane, for organising this fieldtrip.
