NEWSLETTER Saturday 25 June Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust Inc
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May 2016 VOLUME 65 NO.2 Mid-Day WINTER DINNER NEWSLETTER Saturday 25 June Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust Inc. See pg4 www.pukeiti.org.nz vistas, framed by the forest [conserved and from many, it is regenerated] of the outstanding display of certainly worthy rhododendrons. of the title ‘An Arboretum of At Eastwoodhill the 3500 different species of Distinguished tree were in autumn’s colourful garb, perhaps Merit’ given by not as bright as other years for the summer the International had been less dry and frosty mornings had not Dendrology arrived – but still amazing. The highlight was Society in 1978, the sound of the groups’ feet crunching through and being the carpet of fallen leaves often made more recognised by the Firmania simplex at Gwavas brightly coloured by the shafts of light filtering through the now tall trees - the bones of the NZ Garden Trust as a Garden of National Arboretum. The tallest is a group of gum-trees Significance in 2007.The planting still PUKEITI (Eucalyptus regans) 60 meters in height, which continues. In a special commemorative are among the tallest trees in the world. From ceremony recently representatives of the AUTUMN a distance their rounded feathery crowns IDS planted a Wollemi Pine to mark the contrasted with the pointed and solid 100th birthday of Bob Berry, who was the TRIP TO THE evergreen conifers - redwoods, oregons, cedars, first to catalogue the vast collection at spruce and cypress, laced with colourful Eastwoodhill. Bob of course established EAST COAST splashes of red, orange, yellow and antique Hackfalls Arboretum and along with Lady coral and browns of poplars, gingko, liquid Anne who developed the house garden on ambers and scarlet oaks, among many others. the property, recently formed a Trust to wenty-one Pukeiti members, led by maintain that garden in the future. Both THeather Robson, Chair of the Members’ At their feet, poking through the carpet of now live in Gisborne and are highly Committee, departed New Plymouth in the leaves, here and there, were the pink flowers respected members of the IDS. Bob Berry of the ivy-leafed Cyclamen hederifolium early morning sun at 7am on a beautiful was awarded a Veitch Memorial Medal for obviously thriving, and in the Homestead his contribution to horticulture by the Royal autumn morning of May 02. The sun Garden, borders of the white nerine. Horticultural Society in 2015. shone for the whole trip on the East Coast A drive around the 135 hectare property on - it only clouded up on the way home. The tour group had visited Hackfalls on the the jeep and trailer for some of the group, and previous day after driving from Napier. The In Gisborne, it seemed fitting, on looking out a walk guided by the present curator, Dan deeply dissected hill country through which the window of the bus, to see the white cliffs Halliday, for the majority, were memorable leading to Young Nick’s Head. This was the first ways to spend the morning, for the place land sighted on Cook’s initial voyage of touched the soul. We visited ‘Eastwoodhill’s discovery, the place which marked the beginning Fibonacci Spiral’, a memorial to H B [Bill] of the endeavours and innovation by many since Williams, who purchased the property from who have made New Zealand the great place it is. Douglas two years prior to the latter’s death. We had just left Eastwoodhill, the living He was determined that Eastwoodhill should memorial to Douglas Cook, by the way born in survive and so set up a Trust to ensure this. His New Plymouth in 1885, who with passion and action certainly emphasises that the future of single-mindedness developed and built the such special places requires the on-going Arboretum of European Trees, the largest in support of others equally passionate. the Southern Hemisphere, on the dry hills of Douglas Cook planted trees on the property in Gisborne. It was so dry that rhododendrons 1918, and started the Arboretum formally in would not thrive. He then collected around 1927. He died in 1967. Now nearly a hundred him plants-people of note, the Pukeiti years after those first plantings, and input Cyclamen hederifolium Rhododendron Trust was established and he purchased the first parcel of land on which Pukeiti’s gardens were established. Douglas, along with others like Sir Russell Matthews, wove a dream which still ensnares people as it has become reality. Pukeiti is more than just a collection of rhododendrons in a rainforest setting - it is unique. Unlike Eastwoodhill, introduced trees are few in number, selected for their bloom simply to provide a focus for The group at Hackfalls page 2 we passed was unusually green, lush with number of expeditions in Asia. Tom now Michael directly to join as a foundation grass, the result of a relatively wet late runs the family’s Cornish property member he offered as bait - a foot-high summer and autumn and was made more Tregrehan, in Cornwall. potted rare Michelia doltsopa, one of the appealing by the bright sunshine which The resulting garden at Gwavas is a true first available in New Zealand. Michael accentuated shadows in the gullies, woodland garden, as natural as the climate took the bait and has been a keen supporter contours and sheep tracks. In places and local conditions allow. It is described as and benefactor of Pukeiti ever since. He though - too many places in the view of a ‘Cornish Woodland Garden’ but is really a proudly showed us the tree, patting its some - sombre blankets of dark green pines unique place, a New Zealand Woodland almost metre-diameter trunk with some capped and covered a number of the hills. Garden of exotic plants moulded by the affection. He also introduced us to a A walk through Hackfalls, which is at a local external climate and the microclimate number of trees which Tom had collected. higher altitude and a good deal wetter under the large canopy trees. This allows a Graham Smith and Allan Jellyman are than Eastwoodhill, was exhilarating. We successful eclectic range of plants to presently assisting Michael to catalogue were guided by Diane Playle. Diane and seemingly thrive, although this has the extensive collections. Gwavas is a her husband Kevin manage the farm and required much care and attention from treasure trove of rare and unusual plants. take care of the Arboretum, the highlight Michael and Carola who have battled with The garden has one of the largest private of which was the oak collection, drought, having to extensively water the collections of temperate woody plants in particularly the Mexican Oaks, which trees when young, and cleaned up after Australasia and like Hackfalls has been make up probably the largest collection of storms which have sent some of the larger recognised by a ‘Distinguished Merit these to be seen anywhere. Unusual trees, trees crashing through sometimes rare and Award‘ given by the IDS, and also made a some not encountered before by some of ‘Garden of National Significance’ by the NZ our group, were spectacular in their Gardens’ Trust. Gordon Collier wrote in an autumn clothing. The resulting views edition of ‘NZ House and Garden’ especially around the lake were serene, magazine, ‘it’s a natural woodland setting bird-song of Tui and grey- warblers adding and looks cared for but not managed.’ another dimension. In the distance sheep As Lynn started this story in Gisborne so I dotted green hills. will continue from there. After dropping While oaks are the dominant trees planted Lynn off at Gisborne airport, the rest of us there are many other species. A recent continued travelling back to Napier for our published book compiled by Bob Berry second night. contains the full catalogue of these, along Thursday saw us up bright and early to with their photographs. It sums up his return to New Plymouth via Taupo. After life-long interest and obsession with trees. morning tea down by the Taupo marina we He started planting at Hackfalls in 1924. proceeded to Huka Lodge. As soon as you There are now over 3000 species and turn off the road, the perfectly clipped varieties, many of which Bob grew from hedges, lining the drive, inform that you seed he collected in the wild, spread across are entering a different world. We were fifty acres of the farm. Among them are divided into two groups and proudly 160 different maples, 90 birches, 90 shown around by two of the gardeners. eucalypt species, 70 magnolia varieties, Michael Hudson with Magnolia (Michelia) doltsopa Along the entrance, and around the Lodge 450 oaks and over 400 rhododendrons. the planting is very formal with clipped It was the rhododendrons which captured treasured under-plantings to the floor blocks of Box and Choisya, neatly clipped the eye though, despite their not being in where many perennials like aquilegias, edges of Box and the tall clipped hedges flower. They were also the main under- primulas, bluebells and daffodils add surrounding well maintained areas or planting in the Gwavas forest we visited on interest to the unspoilt woodland setting. rooms where guests can relax, swim, play the first day of the tour. Now run separately from the surrounding tennis, petanque or croquet and eat. Gwavas, established by Major George farmland, which has been sold, Gwavas, The formality of the immaculately clipped Gwavas Carlyon was purchased in 1880 the garden, encompasses nine hectares of areas quickly gives way to the more when the first gardens were laid out and planting and an adjoining remnant of relaxed, but still carefully nurtured and the first houses built.