Garden Newsletter of the Auckland Botanic Gardens and Friends The September 2019

The AGM Issue Contents

FRIENDS AGM 3 Friends AGM notices 4 AGM agenda and 2018 minutes 7 Trustees AGM Report 8 Friends President's Report 14 ABG Annual Report 23 20 Growing Friends Report 20 Soup Day Report 21 Rambler Report 21 Library Management Group Report GARDENS NEWS 23 Jack's update 25 Visitor Services updates FRIENDS & VOLUNTEERS 26 Friends Painting Group 25 27 Upcoming events AN IN-DEPTH LOOK 29 Spring seasonal activities 30 Camellia research update 31 In memory of Llew 35 Australian adventures

Front cover image: Sturt's desert pea, Swainsona formosa at Alice Springs Photo: Jack Hobbs

© Material in this Newsletter is copyright. Please refer to the Friends’ website www.friendsabg. co.nz for the full Copyright Statement. Individual 30 items may be reproduced provided that the source The is acknowledged and the author’s permission is Auckland Garden obtained. Contributions are welcome and material Auckland for the December 2019 issue should be submitted by is the quarterly Botanic Gardens 3 p.m. Friday 15 November 2019 to the Editor ross. newsletter of the 102 Hill Road [email protected]. Botanic Gardens staff Manurewa should send their contributions to Jack Hobbs. Auckland Botanic Auckland 2105 Gardens and Friends Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens Inc. 2019 Annual General Meeting Notice

The 36th Annual General Meeting of the Friends will be held on Saturday 28 September at 4:30 p.m. in the Friends and Volunteers Building at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, 102 Hill Road, Manurewa.

All Friends are encouraged to attend the AGM and to nominate candidates for election to the Executive Committee. You may wish to stand yourself. Nomination forms are enclosed with this newsletter or may be obtained from the Administrative Assistant (email [email protected]. Please remember that only current financial members may nominate or vote.

Election of officers AGM programme

The retiring 2018-2019 Executive 4.30 p.m. Committee is as follows: AGM, Friends and Volunteers President Dianne Glenn 1 Building. Please bring this issue of Vice President Liz Powell 1 The Auckland Garden with you as Past President Bill Burrill 1 it contains the agenda and reports. Treasurer Judy Williams 2 Linda Christie 6.00 p.m. Secretary Laure Lamason Pre-dinner drink followed by Committee Viv Canham dinner and coffee at Café Miko, Ross Ferguson Botanic Gardens. Booking and Graeme Hauer 2 prepayment for the dinner is Heather Hine essential – the booking slip is Kate Moodie enclosed. Please return before Ex officio Jack Hobbs Wednesday 18 September. (Group Manager, Botanic Gardens) 7.30 p.m. Administration Irene Horton The after-dinner talk will be given by Bec Stanley: Stipa Steppes to 1 Term completed Alpine Meadows. In 2018 Bec, 2 Not standing for re-election with support from the Friends of 3 Auckland Botanic Gardens, attended Botanic Gardens that were shared three plant conferences in Kyiv at the conferences, and focus on (Ukraine), Berlin (Germany) and some highlights of the people, Geneva (Switzerland). This talk will plants and some of the 17 public touch on the stories from Auckland and Botanic Gardens visited.

AGM agenda 1. President’s introduction 8. Appointment of Auditor 2. Apologies 9. Increase in subscriptions 3. Minutes of the thirty-fifth Annual 10. Presentation of Friends Birthday General Meeting held on 29 Gift to the Gardens September 2018 11. Friends Buchanan Award 4. Matters arising 12. Trustees Report 5. Presentation of President’s 13. Election of Officers Annual Report 14. Election of Trustees 6. Presentation of Annual Accounts 15. Election of Life Member 7. Motion of thanks to the Auditor 16. Gardens Report 17. General Business

2018 AGM minutes From the thirty-fifth Annual General Meeting of the Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens Inc. held in the Friends Building at the Auckland Botanic Gardens on Saturday, 29th September 2018 at 4.30pm.

• President’s welcome and introduction President Dianne Glenn welcomed the 28 Friends and visitors present. She made special note of the attendance of Angela Dalton (Chair), Stella Cattle and Angela Cunningham from the .

• Apologies Holly Powley, Byrdie Ayres, Roger and Ann Price, Irene Horton, Cr. Daniel Newman, Jenny Hunt, Bill and Maggie Burrill, Graeme Hauer, Lyndsay Hatch, Alana Becher. Moved that the apologies be accepted - Ross Ferguson/Shona Pitcaithly - Carried

• Minutes from the 34th Annual General Meeting (held 23rd September 2017) 4 These minutes were circulated with the agenda and other reports as part of the September Newsletter. Moved that the minutes as circulated be taken as read, and accepted as a true and correct record. Kate Moodie/ Sue Davison - Carried

• Matters arising There were no matters arising

• President’s annual report The report had been circulated with the other meeting material. Dianne commented particularly on the challenges involved with the Friends acting as the lead organisation in running and financing the 2017/2018 Sculpture in the Gardens event. Owing to the lobbying and support of people such as Cr. Daniel Newman, Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore and Stella Cattle with the Manurewa Local Board, the Gardens have now received a significant financial commitment from the to fund Sculpture in the Gardens over the next 10 years. The event will be run by the Gardens in partnership with the Friends. Dianne also noted the changes in the way the Friends allocate the Buchanan Award and she made special mention of the highly successful and popular Worldwide Botanical Art Exhibition. Moved the President’s report be accepted - Dianne Glenn/Stella Cattle – Carried

• Annual accounts Judy Williams as the Friends Treasurer, reviewed the content of the annual accounts copies of which were circulated at the meeting. She acknowledged in particular the funding in cash and kind from a range of sources which was crucial in supporting the 2017/2018 Sculpture in the Gardens. Peter O’Brien, auditor, was present at the meeting and confirmed that he had audited the accounts and that everything was in order. He commended Judy for her high standard of financial management and reporting, and emphasised how important it was that organisations such as the Friends maintain a rigorous approach to financial management. The finalised reports will be on the Charities website. Moved that the annual accounts be received - Judy Williams/Heather Hine - Carried

• Motion of thanks to the auditor Moved - Dianne Glenn/Ross Ferguson - Carried

• Appointment of auditor • Moved that Peter O’Brien be reappointed as auditor subject to his acceptance - Judy Williams/Sue Davison – Carried 5 • Presentation of Friends Birthday Gift to the Gardens As their 2018 Birthday Gift, the Friends will contribute another $10,000 to an entranceway to one of the gardens leading off the new Pacific Pathway. Moved that the Friends’ gift be approved - Dianne Glenn/Kate Moodie – Carried

• Friends’ Buchanan Award Pippa Lucas has received the Buchanan Award this year. She will use the funding to contribute to broadening her horticultural experience in the UK and USA.

• Trustees report The Trustees report had been circulated with other AGM reports as part of the newsletter. Dianne Glenn as president of the Trustees drew attention to the fact that last year’s report had noted the urgency of setting up a sustainable model for the continuation of Sculpture in the Gardens. She was pleased to note that this had now been achieved. The membership of the Trustees will remain the same but Irene Horton, the Friends administrator, will become the secretary.

• Election of officers and committee members The list of nominations was shown on the whiteboard. There were no nominations from the floor.

President Dianne Glenn (nominated Liz Powell/Laure Lamason) Past President Bill Burrill Vice President Liz Powell Treasurer Judy Williams Secretary Laure Lamason

• Moved that the nominated officers be accepted - Dianne Glenn/Sue Davison – Carried

Committee Ross Ferguson, Heather Hine, Kate Moodie, Graeme Hauer, Viv Canham (new member)

• Moved that the nominated committee members be accepted - Dianne Glenn/David Glenn – Carried

• Election of Trustees Moved that the current members as listed continue as trustees - Dianne Glenn/Terry Becher – Carried

6 • Gardens Report Jack Hobbs presented his report from the floor, giving an overview of the numerous and noteworthy activities that the Gardens had been involved in from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018. The new carpark and the Pacific Pathway have been two of the major capital developments that have demanded time and attention and will be hugely beneficial new assets once completed.

Jack reserved special praise for Ross Ferguson for his production and management of the Gardens newsletter. Moved that the Gardens report be accepted - Viv Canham/Glennis Sibun – Carried

• General Business There was no general business

The meeting closed at 5.30 pm

Signed as a true and correct record

…………………………………………………………………………………….. Date ………………………………………………………………………......

Trustees AGM Report, 2019

The role of the Trustees of the Friends elected at the AGM of the Auckland Botanic Gardens • two Council representatives (Inc.) is to determine the overall policy • up to two members co-opted by and be responsible for the finances of the Trustees the Society. They must approve any • the Manager of the Gardens. expenditure over $15,000.00. The management of the Dingley Bequest The members of the Trust for 2018- is one of its financial responsibilities. 19 have been Dianne Glenn (Chair), Judy Williams (Treasurer), Bill Burrill The Board of the Trustees comprises and Graeme Hauer (representatives of the Friends), and Barbara Myron • the Friends President (Chair) and (co-opted by the Friend Trustees). The Treasurer two Auckland Council representatives • two Society representatives have been Cr. Daniel Newman and

7 Manurewa Local Board Member to benefit the Gardens. The other Stella Cattle. The Manager of the seven seats have been purchased Gardens Jack Hobbs has served on to sell to raise funds for the Friends the Trust and the Secretary of the to support programmes initiated for Trust has been Irene Horton. the benefit of the Auckland Botanic Gardens. The Friends Executive has sought approval of expenditure twice The Trustees have not physically met this year – once for the $50,000 but have been kept informed though contribution made by the Friends to the minutes of the Friends Executive the 2019-20 Sculpture in the Gardens Committee and the Organising exhibition and recently to purchase Committee of the SitG. There has nine stone seats at $3,200 each, to been no strong movement in the the total value of $28,800, to install in structure and organisation of the the newly developed Pacific Pathway. Friends or the Executive and any payment from our investments has Two seats are intended to honour two been stated in our monthly financial Friends who have contributed hugely reports and the annual audited report. to the Auckland Botanic Gardens - Phil Jew, a previous longstanding Director I thank the Trustees for their continuing of Auckland Regional Parks, who was interest and service to the Friends. involved with the development of We appreciate their commitment and the Auckland Botanic Gardens and look forward to this over the next year. honoured as a long term supporter, This year I will be standing down as and Joan Dingley who bequeathed President having completed a three money (now to the value of $603,865) year term, the maximum permitted to the Friends to use the interest to as per the constitution. This means I benefit the Library, with the Friends will also not automatically be Chair of being able to allocate funds for a the Trustees but do wish to continue purpose approved by the Trustees. as a Trustee Representative of the In past years it was approved to use Friends and will put myself forward surplus funds to provide continuing for election. financial support to Gardens staff to gain more knowledge and experience Dianne Glenn ONZM JP – Chair.

Friends President’s Report, 2019

This has been a year of consolidation Executive – our excitement of of activities carried out by the Friends planning for the 2019-20 Sculpture

8 in the Gardens (SitG) has capped off reported next year. However, I wish a year of sustainability knowing that to acknowledge the generous offer this and the next four exhibitions are of the McConnell family to again fund at least risk to the Friends, having the Supreme Award to be announced secured funding from the Auckland on the opening night of the 2019-20 Council of $200,000 per event, Sculpture in the Gardens exhibition. leaving the Friends to find the balance The Friends can enjoy a preview through donations, sponsorship 4.00-7.00 p.m. on 13 November. and patronage. Again, the Friends donated $50,000 from its own funds, The Buchanan Award last year was as approved by the Trustees. awarded to Pippa Lucas to travel in May/June of this year, to America With the overall management of SitG for three weeks to volunteer at the being shared by the Gardens staff Chanticleer Garden in Philadelphia and the Friends in partnership, and and to visit New York Botanic with Kim Stretton continuing in the Garden. This was followed by three role as Event Manager, the Friends weeks in England visiting significant Executive has had fewer decisions gardens and on the flight back to to make. An Organising Committee , she made a stopover of Jack Hobbs (Chair) and Micheline in Singapore to visit the Gardens by Newton (representing the Auckland the Bay. Because we amended the Botanic Gardens), Dianne Glenn and terms of the Buchanan Award, to a Liz Powell (representing the Friends), biennial award for a staff member and Kim, has been responsible for to travel overseas to extend their major decisions around the SitG, knowledge of horticulture and bring while the Advisory Committee which back ideas to enrich the Botanic included the four curators (Rachel de Gardens, this year we will be funding Lambert, Linda Tyler, Brett Graham several staff members to attend the – outdoor exhibition, and Richard BGANZ (Botanic Gardens Australia Mathieson – indoor exhibition) and and New Zealand) Conference held in Kim, have been very active choosing Wellington in October. The recipient and managing the 20 sculptors/ of the Award two prior to Pippa was sculptures selected to exhibit Bec Stanley who had to change her outdoors. We are very grateful for the first proposal when the course she services provided by the engineering was to attend at Kew Gardens was partners, Beca, Envivo, Structure cancelled but the following year Design and Airey Consultants Ltd, attended conferences and visited who are working with the sculptors gardens in Europe. Bec will be guest to ensure that the artworks are safe speaker at the AGM in September. and secure for public viewing and to meet Health and Safety regulations The Friends contribute to the costs of the Gardens. This event has of staff attending other conferences not yet opened, so more will be and training opportunities to expand 9 their knowledge and to benefit the Auckland Botanic Gardens and Eden Gardens. Pippa Lucas and Andrea Garden are eligible to apply for an Wright were funded by the Friends award of $1000 to contribute to the to attend the New Zealand Gardens development of their career. Two Trust Conference in April. Jack Hobbs awards – one to each Garden, may and Bec Stanley were funded to meet be awarded annually until the fund is the BGANZ Executive Gisborne in depleted. A selection committee of May to discuss seed banking, Botanic three consider applicants who apply Gardens Conservation International for financial assistance to attend accreditation, Young Horticulturist of a conference or seminar, for staff the Year, and planning the BGANZ exchanges or tertiary learning. The Conference. There is also funding first McLeavy Award was made to available for research and special Sarah Collins, a gardener at Eden projects that meet the objects of Garden, to attend the New Zealand the Society. The Friends funded the Gardens Trust conference in Dunedin Wildflower Meadow Trial undertaken in Central Otago, in April. by Olivia Rooke-Devoy. With the passing of our previous The Friends are very grateful for Treasurer and Life Member Neville donations made this past year. We Haydon, the Auckland Branch of wish to acknowledge those who the New Zealand Camellia Society have contributed and those who have honoured him with a donation of been honoured. $9000 to contribute to the Camellia Breeding Project Fund, which seeks The first day of August saw the to address the Camellia Blight passing of Llew Summers, a truly disease, by developing and breeding dedicated supporter of the SitG plants that are resistant to the Blight. exhibitions. Llew, sculptor of Butterfly, The Friends Executive chose to also loved by so many, especially children, contribute $9000 to honour Neville. sited near Café Miko, will long be This year Olivia Rooke-Devoy carried remembered by those associated out the camellia crosses as part of with the Gardens. At present, we also the breeding project. have within the Gardens a second Llew Summers sculpture, To the end The Friends Horticultural Library of love, depicting a dancing couple. has benefitted from three donors. Val Bieleski donated some of Rod’s Late last year, the Friends were library of horticultural books, a past contacted by Pauline Clarke who member Josephine Edith Gamble, in wished to donate $20,000 to be her will, donated her garden and floral held and invested by the Friends of art books and residents of the USA, the Auckland Botanic Gardens, in Bernice and David White donated memory of her close friend Shirley US$300 (NZ$442.72) to purchase McLeavy. Horticultural staff at books for the library in honour of 10 their daughter-in-law’s mother Renu the Gardens. The second seat honours Prasad who had lived close to the Phil Jew, a previous longstanding Gardens, visited frequently, was Director of Regional Parks, who was herself an avid gardener and Garden involved with the development of Award winner. the Auckland Botanical Gardens, has been a continuing benefactor of the In July, the Fifth Season Garden Gardens, and was the instigator of Group made a donation of $850.67 the Friends; the other seven seats to to the Friends following their final be sold as a fundraiser to benefit the AGM as the Group closed down Gardens. after decades of membership, one of the founders being the late Brian The Pacific Pathway was to benefit Buchanan, former Superintendent of from the Friends Birthday Gifts for the Auckland Botanic Gardens. The the past two years - $10,000 each donation was made in his honour. year to contribute to entrances to the Pathway. Manager Jack Hobbs, In memory of Rod Bieleski, Val informed us in June that this funding donated a garden seat to honour would no longer be required and him. It is situated in the Camellia that along with the $10,000 that we Gardens and was dedicated on 6 intended to donate this year, this March, followed by a small gathering means that there would be $30,000 of friends to reminisce on his life available for a significant purchase or journey. contribution to benefit the Gardens. At time of writing this report, a A proposal put to the Friends decision had not been made. Executive to honour two extremely valuable contributors to the Gardens, We were unable to continue the was agreed upon. The Friends made Photographic Competition during a decision to purchase nine stone 2019, as following the retirement seats to be installed permanently from the Committee of Annette in the newly developed Pacific Toon, we have not been able to Pathway. One seat honours Joan secure someone else to take on the Dingley who made a significant role of promoting and managing the donation (at time of writing - recorded competition. The Rod Bieleski Cup as worth $603,865) to the Gardens, for the Supreme Award- “overall best the interest of which is to benefit the in competition” was won by Jiongxin Library with the Friends being able to Peng. The most promising Child/Teen allocate funds for a purpose approved Award was won by Alex McIntyre. by the Trustees. In years past it was We were grateful for the services of approved to use surplus funds to the judge – Pauline Smith. We are still provide continuing financial support looking for a co-ordinator and keen to to the Gardens staff to gain more hear of someone with this expertise. knowledge and experience to benefit 11 Unfortunately we had difficulties children visiting the Gardens and with the management of the Friends they run freely with great excitement website, we initially contracted Kate where there is freedom from traffic. McGee who worked in the Visitor There are signs at each entrance Centre and managed the Gardens to the Gardens that cycles are website, to continue to develop not permitted. Other options are our one but finally we decided to being considered for the Greenway close down ours and transfer to the Network. Gardens website with a link to our pages. This meant we also had to In April the Friends Executive change the email addresses that celebrated our partnership with the had been connected to the server Gardens staff and provided them we had been using, but this affected with a morning tea in the Logan only the ones used by the Friends Campbell building – this is always administrator and treasurer. We thank a great opportunity to meet the Kate for assisting the Friends and staff who we seldom see or hear congratulate her on the birth of her about but do a fantastic job in the daughter Maeve. Our web pages are Gardens. In July we held our Annual now managed by Greg Moylan with Soup Day as a treat and thank you an overview by Laure Lamason. to our Friends for their continuing support for the Gardens, the Friends In April the Friends made a submission Executive supplying a range of tasty to the Manurewa Local Board soups and snacks. It was a most concerning its Greenway Network, magnificent day – blue sky and to oppose the proposed Express sunshine in contrast to the one last Path – Open Space route through year when it poured with rain. Jack the Auckland Botanic Gardens. We Hobbs complemented the day with reminded the Board that Botanic a presentation of his cruise up the Gardens are places for restful and West Coast of Australia, illustrated safe respite so including a cycleway with his wonderful photography of through the heart of the Gardens wild flora and fauna. would severely compromise this experience. During our involvement To round off this, my last Annual with the Botanic Gardens Master Plan Report as President, I acknowledge preparation, discussion was centred each of the Executive Committee on how to slow people down on and thank them for their dedication the pathway network to encourage and attendance at monthly meetings them to connect to plants, gardens to undertake the business of the and nature. Visitors to the Gardens Friends. Life Member Liz Powell has are not on the alert for bicycles – it served again as Vice President, and is a significant issue with the Friends, undertakes many roles – including that cyclists pose great dangers to as a volunteer on the Library walkers of all ages. There are many Committee, as Reporter receiving 12 correspondence from other Gardens as Treasurer of the Friends. Judy and associated horticultural societies became Treasurer on the retirement and as caterer of nibbles at various of Neville Haydon, brought us into the functions. This year she again electronic age, has been the most organised the Soup Day with great reliable stalwart and guardian of the success. Laure Lamason has served Friends funds and produces reports as Secretary, sending flowers, cards easily understood by all, guiding us and messages on behalf of the Friends through the difficult period of the and has assisted in reassigning the financial management of the previous website, and Life Member Bill Burrill Sculpture in the Gardens (2017- has continued as Immediate Past 18). We regret that she is retiring President with a word of wisdom on but understand that she has many occasions. Ross Ferguson has taken pleasurable activities waiting for her on the role of Editor of the quarterly to enjoy. We wish her well and trust newsletter The Auckland Garden and she will continue to be a Friend, even continues to serve as a volunteer as a volunteer in the rose gardens. on the Library Committee. Kate Graeme has also indicated his Moodie leads and represents the Wiri retirement from the Committee – we Rambler Team which unfortunately thank him for his many years serving has had more time in the garage than the Friends as President and leading touring, owing to the construction of the Growing Friends. the secondary car park and then the Pacific Pathway, but she has kept Irene Horton has served as her team busy with maintenance Administrator for almost two years and training new drivers and guides. with great efficiency and reliability Kate has relieved Liz in the role of and Jack Hobbs has represented organising the two annual bus trips for the Management of the Gardens the Friends and to organise catering and its staff with valuable input to when required. Heather Hine works the Executive Meetings, bringing us as a volunteer in the Gardens and news of activities within the Gardens Graeme Hauer has relinquished the as well as Auckland Council. Stella Growing Friends to Bronwen Rowse. Cattle has represented Manurewa Viv Canham joined the Executive Local Board where she has been at the last AGM and immediately serving as Deputy Chair, and recently became our Health and Safety (H&S) organising meetings with Council Officer, undertaking H&S training and Communication staff to promote working with the Gardens staff where Friends and Gardens activities to the required on behalf of the Friends, local and wider Auckland residents. then joining Kate to gain St. John’s We understand Stella is not seeking First Aid Certificates. Our newest re-election in October, instead member Linda Christie was co-opted seeking some time for rest and to be mentored by Judy Williams recreation after many years of public who has decided it is time to retire service. We wish her well. 13 Lastly, as I step down after three years of Presidency, I can look back and reminisce on progress we have made in professional development and achievements we have made, especially in taking on the total management of the 2017-18 Sculpture in the Gardens. If we had not done this, I believe we would have lost the momentum and the continuation of a wonderful first class sculpture exhibition – free to the public. It was at significant financial risk but never- the-less, with support of the Friends Executive at the time “we knocked the b------d off”. Thank you to all my supporting Executive Members throughout my term – well done.

Dianne Glenn ONZM JP

Auckland Botanic Gardens Annual Report 2018/2019 This annual report covers Botanic Gardens activities from 1 July 2018 until 30 June 2019.

Visitation It was based on NASA research that Annual visitation exceeded 1 million found humans cannot exist in space for the first time, with 1,179,710 visits for long periods without plants. The recorded, an increase of 25.1%. visitor centre Huakaiwaka featured a crashed rocket constructed by the Engagement Beautification Trust Boomer The Gardens website received Business Programme. The Kids’ Area 152,986 sessions, an increase of was transformed into an international 18% on last year. space station with videos of plants growing in space and a NASA app Gardeners of the Galaxy educational (SSI Plants) that includes how to grow exhibition opened on 1 December plants in space. MOTAT installed 2018 and ran until 10 March 2019. an outreach module containing two The objective of this exhibition was activities for children. A solar system to highlight the importance of plants trail led people from the visitor centre for life told through space travel. to the Potter Children’s Garden where 14 a space-themed edible garden was The Pacific Pathway installed. Construction of the Pacific Pathway commenced in late October 2018. The Stardome Observatory The contract was awarded to Seger and Planetarium delivered joint who had constructed the new engagement programmes in January. carpark. The Auckland Astronomical Society provided evening star gazing events. Placement of rocks in nodes 3 and Key partners in the display were the 4 commenced in February 2019 and Manukau Beautification Charitable pohutukawa trees were transplanted. Trust, MOTAT, the Stardome Two large Metrosideros excelsa Observatory & Planetarium, Auckland ‘Titirangi’ were transplanted from Astronomical Society and Hyalite the grove near Pohutukawa Walk who installed the hydroponic system. into Node 4, and three assorted pohutukawa cultivars from the open Plants ground area were also transplanted Myrtle rust was detected on a into Node 4. Another five pohutukawa Lophomyrtus at the Gardens in July cultivars were transplanted from the 2018. It was also discovered on Open Ground area into Node 3. a Metrosideros excelsa ‘Vibrance’ opposite the nursery Herb Garden Weeds were allowed to germinate in gate in April 2019. the new Pacific Pathway garden beds before spraying with herbicide in early Nursery May. Mulch was then spread on most 60,980 native plants were of the garden beds. On Friday 17 May despatched from the Gardens two large pohutukawa trees were nursery for revegetation in Regional transplanted, one into the Wedding Parks. 50,000 were in planter bags Garden and the other into Node 2. and quick cells and the other 10,980 were despatched in tubes for the Staff began planting the garden beds volunteer nurseries in regional parks on 5 June. Trees were planted first, to bag on. Fourteen Regional Parks mainly pohutukawa and Chatham received the plants and one local park Island nikau, the two signature (Totara Park). The same target has trees that will impart a “Pacific” been set for 2020. flavour to the finished pathway. The pohutukawa are all selections New Carpark made by Graeme Platt for superior The overflow carpark opened in ornamental qualities. Support August 2018. (Work commenced on plantings include divaricating species Wednesday 7 February 2018). Staff such as Muehlenbeckia astonii, began planting the garden beds, Coprosma virescens, C. rhamnoides, swales and rain gardens on Thursday and Astelia chathamica ‘Silver Spear’. 16 August and Friday 17 August. 15 New pathways through the Perennial Gardens and Native Plant Ideas

In June confirmation was received which are brighter and less costly that the Pacific Pathway would be to run. The new lighting system will extended from Urban Trees to the provide brighter more consistent Rose Garden. These works were coverage with fewer blind spots. expected to be completed by August 2019. In June new bollards were installed by the Logan Campbell Building, Assets replacing the electronic swing gate. New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) stormwater treatment pond Other notable projects completed was constructed in the north-western were: corner of the Gardens. • underground services mapping; • Children’s Garden renewal of Replacement of the “bridge” entrance structures and water features; into the visitor centre commenced in • perennial retaining wall September. The main entrance was construction; closed for several weeks while works • two new pathways in the Camellia were completed. Garden.

Replacement of lighting and CCTV Sculpture in the Gardens cameras in the main carpark Following strong community and commenced in May with completion political support Auckland Council in July. One extra camera was included $1 million in the Long installed. The new lights are LED Term Plan (LTP) for Sculpture in the 16 Gardens. $50,000 funding is allocated Education in alternate years and $150,000 in the 6,671 school children participated year of each exhibition over the next in Learning through Experience 10 years. programmes over the year. This was a reduction on the 7,737 who attended Sculpture in the Gardens artists’ day the programmes last year. The took place on Wednesday 3 April, Education programmes are delivered with 18 of the 20 selected artists on in partnership with the Sustainable site. Schools Advisors and their roles have altered so the capacity to offer taught Events sessions throughout the week was Eye on Nature school days took place reduced. Additional Educators are on 26, 27 & 28 March with over 2600 now in place to ensure future capacity students attending. They were taken can return to previous levels. through the Puhinui Forest under the theme of “Healthy trees, healthy Ten sessions of “Little Sprouts” were me”. The family day on 30 March delivered to under-5-year olds in the was enjoyed by 9000 attendees. It Library. Average attendance was was a collaboration of community about 20. groups, all ages of school children and the Manukau Beautification Trust Eleven “Drop n Learn” workshops who provided fun games based on were run by Gardens staff covering environmental themes. The Schools garden design and planning, plant Botanical Art competition entries maintenance and propagation. They were displayed in the visitor centre were once again very popular. for the month of April and proved very popular with visitors. Conservation The Gardens have been working in Elvis in the Gardens celebrated 10 partnership with Northland Iwi Te years since the first concert at the Roroa to rescue a critically endangered Bombay Rugby Grounds. The event native plant. The wild population of took place on 3 March with 11,800 Pimelea eremitica has reduced to just attendees and was a day of colour, 5 plants in its wild habitat on the cliffs costume and non-stop music from of Maunganui Bluff. This is down from world-renowned tribute artists and 80 plants when surveyed in 2010 concert band. owing to a goat entering a fenced-off area then being unable to escape. The Activities were run throughout each nursery has successfully propagated of the school holidays with a wide cuttings and representatives from Te range of plant themes. It was again Roroa inspected the plants and were a popular programme with great pleased with the progress made. feedback from families who attended.

17 The Gardens also worked with kauri dieback and myrtle rust. Ngati Kuri, Muriwhenua Inc and DOC on Metrosideros bartlettii. In early 2019 Olivia Rooke-Devoy Only 12 individual plants remained submitted her honours thesis on the in the wild and the Gardens have a meadows trial work at the Gardens. few individuals to conserve on behalf This research showed that different of Ngati Kuri and Muriwhenua Inc. rates of mowing can change the plant composition of a meadow. The Gardens have collected a number of species from the wild or that have Olivia Rooke-Devoy and her sister, provenance information including Tamsin Rooke-Devoy, jointly Agathis australis, Pimelea orthia, undertook pollination of camellias Ripogonum aff. scandens, Ileostylus as part of the Haydon Fund Award micranthus, Metrosideros parkinsonii project to produce hybrids resistant and Austroderia splendens. Most to petal blight. have not yet been planted in the gardens as they were received as Conferences seed. Bec Stanley attended the BGANZ executive meeting. The Gardens have been learning how to propagate Metrosideros Bec Stanley received an award from parkinsonii, a species with an unusual BGANZ to attend the 12th Australian distribution in New Zealand. Material Threatened Plant Conservation the Gardens received came from the Conference in Canberra from 12 to 15 Denniston Plateau. November.

Research Emma Bodley attended BGANZ The meadows project re-commenced Australia meeting and Australian in March with a new student, Olivia Network for Plant Conservation Rooke-Devoy, making two visits conference in November. At both with Bruce Burns and continuing the conferences she gave a talk entitled mowing regime. “Responding to the dreaded myrtle rust: a New Zealand botanic gardens The Gardens staff published several perspective”. papers in the New Zealand Garden Journal. In April Pippa Lucas and Andrea Wright attended the New Zealand On 20 November the Minister of Gardens Trust (NZGT) conference in Research, Science and Innovation, Central Otago. Megan Woods, announced in Huakaiwaka a new research fund of Shelley Small attended the nearly $14 million to be spent over Interpretation conference in Dunedin three years to investigate how to stop in September 2018. 18 Bec Stanley and Jack Hobbs attended agreed staff at the Gardens and a meeting of the BGANZ executive in Eden Garden would be eligible. The Gisborne on 16 and 17 May. Costs first recipient was Sarah Collins of were met by the Friends. Agenda Eden Garden who attended the NZ items included seed banking, Botanic Gardens Trust conference in Central Gardens Conservation International Otago in April. accreditation, Young Horticulturist of the Year and planning for the BGANZ Volunteers conference in Wellington in October. We were saddened by the death On 17 May a Wollemi pine (Wollemia of Neville Haydon in March 2019. nobilis) was planted at Gisborne Neville was the main contributor of Botanic Gardens with the Mayor plants and expertise to the Camellia Meng Foon. Garden since its inception. He is remembered by the Haydon Pavilion Staff and Haydon Fund which supports In February the Gardens received the development of camellia hybrids approval from Council for an resistant to petal blight. additional gardener position. One of our horticultural apprentices, Scott We have over 100 volunteers who Denham, was appointed to the new contributed 5880 hours to the gardener role. Gardens over the year. Wiri Rambler hours were reduced owing to the In April Sabian Pivac commenced closure of their main route due to work as replacement Visitor Services construction of the Pacific Pathway. representative for Nicky Gordon who retired. Volunteer groups include the roving team (574 hours), Herbs and Edibles In May Greg Moylan commenced (243 hours), nursery team (558 in the Special Projects Officer as hours), rose dead-heading team (127 replacement for Kate McGee. hours), Growing Friends (1819 hours), Wiri Rambler team (10 hours), visitor In late June Kerry Gillbanks resigned centre volunteers (281 hours), Depot from her collection curator role after volunteers (288 hours), Research (16 15 years of service. Her last day was hours), library volunteers (893 hours) Wednesday 17 July. and other (772 hours). Volunteers worked hard and contributed a In November Pauline Clarke significant amount to the Gardens approached the Gardens and Eden during this period. Garden with an offer to donate funds to support developing horticulturists. Other Pauline asked for it be named the The Swedish Ambassador Par McLeavy Award in memory of her Ahlberger visited the Gardens late friend Shirley McLeavy. It was in September to discuss Daniel 19 Solander, the Swedish botanist who commemorated. visited New Zealand with Captain James Cook and Joseph Banks in The Growing Friends attended the 1769. He is particularly interested Ayrlies Plant Fair in April. It attracted in how Solander’s contribution will 800 visitors on the Friday and 600 on be recognised in 2019 when the Saturday. 250th anniversary of their visit is Jack Hobbs

Growing Friends AGM Report

This has been my first year leading Highlights of our year have been: the Growing Friends. We have had a great year despite having no access or • the outdoor perennial sale last sales for part of the winter. We have winter; exceeded our budget target. The staff • great Ayrlies Sale days; of the nursery and the gardens have • May Sunday sale was huge. all been more than willing to help by sharing their knowledge, plants and My thanks go to all the people in the expertise, thank you very much to all Growing Friends team for their spirit of them. and their involvement.

Bronwen Rowse

Soup Day, 7 July 2019

A happy and relaxed group of and landscape features that few of us members and friends met on a sunny will have experienced. Sunday to enjoy this year’s Soup Day. A selection of delicious soups was Warm thanks to the Committee provided by Committee members members who provided the soups, and this year we had the special treat cut and buttered and sliced and of some home baking and truffles to prepared the tables for the lunch – round off the meal. then cleaned up afterwards - and to those Friends who attended another Jack Hobbs gave a fascinating successful day presentation – and lots of photos Liz Powell – of the tour by sea he led up the west coast of Australia and down And a special thanks to Liz who was the red centre on the train. So much the coordinator and organiser. amazing flora, fauna (and people!) 20 Wiri Rambler AGM Report, 2019

The Wiri Rambler has spent the last been able to replace them so will eighteen months tucked away in the be able to operate on Saturdays, Nursery Building because of all the Sundays and most Public Holidays. major construction work. We are With this year having the Sculpture planning to be operating again when in the Gardens we are expecting to the Pacific Pathway is completed – be busy. The drivers have a training we hope by Labour Weekend. Our course organised for them and guides new route through the Perennial will have new notes. Garden, the Native Ideas area and the Urban Trees with the outlook by All of our team are volunteers and I the lake gives a more interesting and would like to thank them for their enjoyable trip for our passengers. patience and loyalty over the last eighteen months and the time they The team members have been give to working on the Rambler. eagerly waiting to start again. We have lost a few members but have Kate Moodie.

Library Management Group Report 2018/2019

We held our annual library volunteer sessions were hugely successful morning tea on 10 April 2019. We with about 25 children attending the had an excellent turn out where there monthly sessions. Sessions were run were updates about the library, a by Sarah Robinson from Little Ferns. chance to catch up with each other We have had one every month since and a special talk from Ross Ferguson it began and will be continuing them about the rare book cabinet items. as they have proved successful and valuable to those families that come In September 2018 we trialled our along. first session of Little Sprouts, a programme for children under 5 Five volunteers joined the library over to come along to the library with a the last year to fill gaps in the roster parent or caregiver and learn about and replace volunteers who retired nature and the environment. The from the library. Thank you to all our programme is similar to the Wriggle volunteers who have given their time and Rhyme programme run at public to the library. libraries but with our own twist to connect it to the Gardens. The The wonderful 21 team has helped us to complete are listed in the President’s Annual cataloguing of the books in the rare Report. The book sale shelf has books cabinet. One of their staff been stocked throughout the year spent one day a week for about six with excess donations that were weeks in the library. duplicates. $220 was also raised by the sale of duplicate books from a We received a few book donations donation by Val Bieleski. over the last year which have been added to the library catalogue. These Emma Bodley

Books purchased in 2018/2019

Book Title Author A tapestry garden Ernie O’Byrne Cabbage: a global history Meg Muckenhoupt Captain Cook and the Pacific McAleer and Rigby Dahlias: beautiful varieties for home and garden Naomi Slade Flourish: New Zealand women and their extraordinary Nicholas and Rogers gardens Forgotten footprints Lyn Sturm Gardenista Slatalla and Williams James Cook: the voyages Frame and Walker Meconopsis for gardeners C. Grey-Wilson Navigators and naturalists Michael Lee New Zealand lichens Bill and Nancy Malcolm Plant conservation: science and practice Blackmore and Oldfield Plants that kill Dauncey and Larsson RHS How to garden when you're new to gardening RHS RHS The secrets of great botanists: and what they teach us Matthew Biggs about gardening Sunflowers Stephen Harris The book of seeds Paul Smith The moss genus Fissidens in New Zealand Beaver and Malcolm The secret gardeners Summerley and Thomas Treasures of Tane: plants of Ngai Tahu Rob Tipa Trees in art C. Watkins Two men went to mow Clive Thorogood

22 Jack’s update

Work on the Pacific Pathway is finally We still have some plantings to coming to an end, with completion complete, definitely the fun part of of the final section to the Rose the project. Once the gardens have Garden entrance expected by early matured, we expect the pathway September. It has been a wonderful and adjacent landscape will provide project to be involved with despite much pleasure to our visitors as well all the disruption and inconvenience as improving wayfinding. it has caused. We have developed a great working relationship with the Although a smaller project, the new contractors, Seger Construction, and carpark lighting is another significant will miss having them around the improvement with the LED lights place. However, it will be wonderful providing much improved lighting. to regain the large tract of land Hopefully the new security cameras traversed by the pathway which has will dissuade thieves from breaking felt as though it belongs to someone into parked vehicles. else for almost a year.

The Gardens' Renton Campbell (far left) and Jack Hobbs (far right) celebrate with the Seger Construction team Nick Pearson, Steve Wetini, Shiva Dubey, Rizzo Nigro and Michael Chu.

23 Recently our old covered courtyards curator on Wednesday 17 July after west of the visitor centre were 15 years of service. We wish her well demolished. The original courtyard in her new role teaching and looking was constructed in 1990 to provide after a school garden in Otara. shelter for customers at the food kiosk. A few years later, another was As we approach spring there is constructed for horticultural shows much to anticipate. Elsewhere in and to provide a sheltered quiet space this newsletter Julia Watson writes for visitors. The covered courtyards about our upcoming exhibition Epic have hosted many excellent events Voyages. Mich describes our new and exhibitions over the years, as initiative to engage more effectively well as many functions such as people with our plants and gardens. wedding receptions. However, they Sculpture in the Gardens returns were no longer fit for purpose and for its seventh edition on 16 will be replaced with a more suitable November with 20 sculptures by venue in the next few years. some of our leading artists. Our magnolias are looking fabulous, and Recently we said farewell to Kerry tui are abundant amongst our spring Gillbanks who finished as a collection blossoms. Enjoy! Jack Hobbs Membership subscriptions

There are still a number of outstanding subscriptions for the 2019/20 financial year. Notices for these were included in the June Newsletter and we rely on members to pay within a reasonable time. If your subscription is outstanding and you wish to renew, please pay this promptly. Members not currently financial in November will be considered to have resigned and this will be your last Newsletter. Subscriptions may be paid Book it in! by cheque, eftpos or cash at • The Friends AGM the Visitor Centre or by direct is on Saturday 28 September deposit (ASB 123011 0757619 See page 3 and the booking slip 00). Please put your name on enclosed for details. the bank transfer and indicate that this is a membership • The Friends Sculpture in the renewal. Thank you. Gardens Preview is on Wednesday 13 November. RSVPs essential. 24 See page 28 for details. Visitor Services updates

“Plants for Auckland” is Live For more detailed information about our recommended plants check out A new family of brochures entitled the “Plants for Auckland” database “Plants for Auckland” has been on our website. This is all available produced based on over 30 years to view on your smart phone or of knowledge accumulated from computer. plant trials and research here at the Gardens. They provide plant To accompany this website and recommendations and basic growing garden advice launch we have also tips on a wide variety of topics such added some great garden advice to as “Best fruit trees for Auckland” help you develop a fabulous garden and ”Best hydrangeas for Auckland”. without using pesticides. Go to You can also download a copy of the www.aucklandbotanicgardens for brochures from the “Garden Advice” more information. section of our website or simply pick up leaflets from the visitor centre. Micheline Newton

Epic Voyages new plants for a new land. Then step out into the gardens to see some of This September and October these plants for yourself and explore come and visit our Epic Voyages our Epic Voyages garden trail. exhibition which showcases the plants used in Polynesian voyaging During Epic Voyages, we will also (and occurring at the same time as be exhibiting Paradise Lost – Daniel the commemoration of 250 years Solander’s Legacy. This is a traveling since Captain Cook landed in New group exhibition commemorating Zealand). the contribution naturalist Daniel Solander made to New Zealand’s The first people to discover, settle history. The ten artists selected each and garden in Aotearoa New Zealand bring a unique vision to this historical arrived here after incredible voyages event and collectively highlight over the Pacific Ocean. In Epic many of Daniel Solander’s facets, Voyages you can discover how these not least of which are his scientific Maori ancestors carved waka hourua, credentials in botany, his cross- double hulled canoes, from trees; cultural awareness and his passion how their sails were woven from leaf for the preservation of the unique fibres; how they arrived laden with species of the natural world.

25 Julia Watson Friends Painting Group

As I write this, at the beginning of to professional artists. We were August, we are in the middle of delighted that a few Auckland-based our annual art exhibition and by the artists who exhibited in the Botanical time you read this it will be over. I Art Worldwide exhibition last year hope you managed to get to see it accepted our invitation to exhibit and enjoyed the lovely artwork on with us too. display. Our monthly meetings continue, and Our exhibition was earlier this year, we are looking forward to having to fit in with the program of events landscape artist Bernadette Parsons at the Gardens to commemorate demonstrate her watercolour the 250th anniversary of botanists landscape technique on Saturday, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander 26 October. Check out her website - who arrived on the Endeavour, www.bernadetteparsons.com captained by James Cook. They saw for the first time our native plants, Our final meeting of the year will be taking many specimens back to on Saturday, 30 November. We will Europe. be having our usual shared morning tea and spend time chatting and The exhibition, In Memory of Banks reminiscing about another great year. and Solander was on for 6 weeks, If you would like to hear more about longer than our usual 2 week/3 our group, please come along to one weekend slot and this allowed of our meetings - we would love to many more people to view the work see you! by our members, from beginners Happy painting, Lesley Alexander Friends Painting Group Exhibition Committee, Lesley Alexander, Sandra Morris and Liz Powell

26 Upcoming events

Friends Visiting Artist Brenda Hart, Jeweller A reminder to those of you who have not yet had a chance to enjoy this year’s Friends Visiting Artist, Brenda Hart’s exquisite work on display in the Visitor Centre gallery. Brenda’s work will be on display until the end of October, and Brenda is in the gallery on the weekends demonstrating just how she creates her lovely pieces. So... don’t miss and visit soon – this could provide a solution to all your Christmas gift needs!

Epic Voyages exhibition This exhibition sails into the Visitor Centre for September and October. See page 25 for more details.

Growing Friends Visit the Growing Friends’ plant sales to buy from our interesting selection of perennials, salvias, edibles, succulents, shade loving and native plants. This month we have extra-large planter bags of hardy ground covers - Rubus barkeri, R. pentalobus, Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’. Or plant a golden flowered kowhai to attract birds and bees, all $8. For hardy hedging, or as specimen shrubs, choose from our coprosmas, e.g., Coprosma ‘Beatson’s Brown’ or C. repens ‘Winter Wine’, $6 each.

The Growing Friends nursery is open to the public for plant sales every Thursday morning 8.30 a.m. – 12.00 noon. Monthly Sunday sales recommence on Sunday 1 September 9 a.m. – 2.00 p.m.

Look for the blue flags past the Herb Garden. Please bring your own bags to carry your smaller purchases. We’ll deliver wheelbarrow loads to your car. Arrangements have been made to have the lower carpark open to the public at our sale times. This means it will be a shorter walk, and mostly downhill to get purchases to your car. Note that cars are not permitted to enter the nursery area at all. 27 Friends Spring Bus Trip Sculpture in the Gardens Heading north, we are visiting two outstanding New Zealand Gardens Friends Preview Trust gardens, both classified as Members of the Friends of the Gardens of National Significance: Gardens are invited to this special preview of this summer’s Sculpture • The Paddocks at Warkworth is in the Gardens. This will be held a very colourful 2-acre garden. on Wednesday, 13 November, in The David Austin roses should the Visitor Centre at the Botanic be at their best. Gardens, from 4.00 – 7.00 p.m. It • Omaio at Takatu Peninsula is will be a chance to meet some of a very tranquil, green, coastal the sculptors and the Curatorial garden of 18 acres featuring a Panel and have a tour of the works canopy of mature native trees before the exhibition opens to the and shade-loving plants. public. Wine, non-alcoholic drinks and nibbles will be served. Itinerary • Saturday, 2 November If you are attending, please RSVP • 8.45 a.m. meet at Botanic either by phoning the Visitor Gardens Centre 09 267 1457 or by emailing Or [email protected] before 9.15 a.m. meet at the Marewa Wednesday, 30 October. Friends Rd exit from the Countdown members only. car park, Greenlane. • 4.45 p.m. returning to the Please advise if mobility assistance Botanic Gardens is required for the two kilometre trail as this can be provided.

The Bus Trip details • The cost is $45.00 which includes entry fee to both gardens. • Before sending payment you must phone Kate Moodie to book your seat 09 2977234. • You can pay by posting the enclosed slip with a cheque to Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens, 102 Hill Rd, Manurewa 2015 or paying by cheque or eftpos at the Gardens. Please indicate your pick up-point. • You can also pay online 12-3011-0757619-00 indicating bus trip and your name. • Hot water and milk will be provided for lunch. • Bring your mugs, teabags, food and extra drinks. • Friends are welcome to bring a friend. • Any queries, phone Kate Moodie 09 2977234 and remember to phone Kate to book your seat before you pay! 28 Spring seasonal activities

The unpredictable spring weather makes garden work unpredictable. Despite the madness we enjoy observing tuis drunkenly crashing from their favourite spring-flowering tree to the next. Bulbs such as ixias, sparaxis, daffodils, hyacinths, gladioli and scillas always make us feel warm, as they remind us of the beauty of springtime.

At the Gardens we are attending to tasks around the Pacific Pathway such as planting, fertilising, weeding, and mulching to bring this site up to standard before the pathway is opened to the public. It is great to see new plantings growing well in the new beds.

In the Edible Garden we are harvesting winter vegetables and applying fresh compost and blood and bone mixed with fish fertiliser to ready the beds for summer vegetables. It is time to sow seed of peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, lettuces, spinach, silverbeet, leeks and beetroot. You can sow cucurbits (pumpkin, squash, and zucchini) now but ensure they are kept under protection. Herbs such as parsley, thyme, mint and rosemary can be planted now if they are ready. Direct sow coriander, carrots and broad beans.

Tomato 'Money' F1 29 Cut back frost-tender plants like flowering is completed but before Canna, Heliotropium and Ageratum, new growth begins. Aim for an and remove dead leaves from open, airy plant with a uniform look. Alocasia and Colocasia and other You can achieve this by: sensitive subtropicals once the threat • removing weak internal crossing of frost is over. Now is the perfect branches; time to stake taller perennials and • removing lower branches 30 cm those that require support such as off the ground; some Alstroemeria, asters, dahlias • remove or shorten laterals and lilies before new vigorous which are thickening into heavy growth takes off. Add mulch to beds branches to encourage good to help suppress weeds and retain floral display; moisture during summer. • for a symmetrical look prune evenly around the whole plant. Plant new roses in early in spring to help roots get established. Fertilise Trim topiaries and hedges to maintain roses with a rose fertiliser or blood their shape and size and give them and bone with sheep pellets. Tie a dressing of general fertiliser. We in new growth on climbers to keep use Pacific Biofert which is now them under control. available for sale at our visitor centre reception. Prune camellias in late spring once Mere Brewer Camellia research update Can we produce attractive, blight- was first recorded in a Wellington resistant camellia cultivars? garden in 1993 and has now spread throughout the country. Camellia As temperatures cool and the rains petal blight has an especially descend, one bright spot of colour negative impact in Auckland owing in New Zealand’s grey winters are to our humidity and rain, disrupting the flowering camellias. Depending otherwise spectacular flower on the cultivar, camellia plants displays. Unfortunately, traditional flower from late-autumn through to control methods (such as fungicides) spring, producing stunning shows have proven ineffective. Therefore, of blooms when the rest of the the best option moving forward is to garden is dormant. Disappointingly, develop new, more disease-resistant many attractive camellias suffer camellia hybrids. from camellia petal blight. This pathogen (Ciborinia camelliae) Building on previous research 30 conducted at the Auckland Botanic camellias have been used as female Gardens, I and students Tamsin parents, such as C. transnokoensis Rooke-Devoy and Stuart Simmons and C. lutchuensis, which possess have conducted a camellia survey small, delicately-scented, single and pollination trial from June to white flowers. Pollen donors included August this year. This research large-flowered reticulatas such endeavours to produce new camellia as ‘Dr Clifford Parks’ and scented hybrids that are both blight-resistant varieties, such as the hybrid ‘Koto and have attractive combinations of no Kaori’ and Camellia yunnanensis. colour, form and scent. This project We were especially impressed by has been kindly funded by the the red colour and pollen production Neville Haydon Fund, which was of C. japonica ‘Bob Hope’. We have established by the Friends of the also conducted a survey of camellias Gardens and the Auckland Branch of currently in flower at the Gardens, the New Zealand Camellia Society. scoring each on the amount of pollen produced and the condition of Previous camellia pollination efforts the flowers. This information will be have had mixed success at the useful for future camellia breeding Gardens, producing few viable efforts. seeds. In previous years, flowers were emasculated (i.e., the anthers Overall, this year’s project efforts will were cut off) to prevent selfing or contribute to longer-term attempts wild pollination. However, this year to develop attractive, disease- we decided to prioritise the number resistant camellia plants. In time, we of flowers pollinated and did not hope to develop outstanding garden emasculate flowers in the hope subjects and restore camellias to that this will increase seed set. We their rightful place as queens of the have also learnt that best results are winter garden! obtained when pollination is done on sunny, warm days. Blight-resistant Olivia Rooke-Devoy In memory of Llew Llewelyn Mark Summers (1947- resulted in 900 works, testimony 2019) to his dedication to making accessible figurative sculpture for Big, bouncy bodies in movement the public. But his choice to depict were the signature motif deployed many of his figures naked caused by Cantabrian sculptor Llew much controversy, particularly in Summers. His 50 years of practice conservative Christchurch. Despite 31 the harmless exuberance of his such as Colin McCahon, Toss sculptures, some saw Llew as lewd. Woollaston and Tony Fomison.

Born into a Methodist family living Recognising his son's interest in in Tancred Street, Linwood, in sculpture, John Summers presented Christchurch’s eastern suburbs, him with books on the great French he was the third child of seven sculptor Aristide Maillol (1861-1944) produced by the tumultuous whose classical nudes were an marriage of bookseller and art critic inspiration to carve rounded forms John Summers and his exceptionally in stone. From the modern British principled wife Connie. Self-taught sculptor Henry Moore (1898 -1986) as an artist, he grew up immersed in Llew learned that sculpture should culture and religion, but was intensely reflect its materials: marble had practical rather than intellectual. to look hard. He also learned that Spirituality informed many of his sculpture could cause a negative works, as did the idea that aesthetic reaction: Moore’s abstractions of pleasure was an important part of human form scandalised some everyday life. when shown at the Auckland Art Gallery in 1956, and a later exhibition His parents provided a fertile of photographs and small bronzes formative environment: his tiny and toured by the British Council to fierce mother was the only woman Christchurch in 1965 also caused a in New Zealand sent to prison for sensation. pacifist beliefs during World War II. Connie often clashed with her Another influential figure husband who had left Whitcombe encountered in Llew’s youth was and Tombs to open John Summers the artist Tony Fomison (1939-1990) Bookshop upstairs in Manchester who had also gone to Linwood High Street in 1958. Above their fireplace School, and then gone on to study hung a reproduction of Peter Paul sculpture at the School of Fine Rubens' The Rape of the Daughters Arts, University of Canterbury from of Leucippus (1618) where plump 1957 to 1960. Fomison frequented naked female bodies tumble about in Summers' bookshop while he was baroque fashion, losing their drapery. at art school. Later, when he joined It is a dynamic riot of bright colour and Roger Fyfe as Junior Assistant flesh, with wild-eyed horses rearing Ethnologist at Canterbury Museum above Castor and Pollux as they grab in 1963, he invited Llew (whose the women. It appears as a fixture in ancestry was Ngai Tahu) to come all photographs of this extraordinary with him on a survey of Maori rock household, flanked by the paintings drawings at the Opihi River site in the Summerses acquired from South Canterbury. contemporary New Zealand artists 32 After this period in the hinterland figurative or representational form with Fomison, Llew undertook a to convey movement and emotion. farm cadetship for four years until Small carvings such as Sorrow II 1967, then returned to Christchurch (1977) in jarrah and Wrestlers (1982) and a position as a nurse aide at in mahogany, were purchased for Sunnyside Mental Hospital for six the civic collection of the Robert months. He met and married his first McDougall Art Gallery (now wife Adrienne in 1969, and worked Christchurch Art Gallery) in 1983. as a builder's labourer to provide for her and their two children, Kristin and Large scale works were always his Daniel. While farming, he had begun goal, and he had plenty of ideas carving Oamaru stone, and showed but lacked the commissions or his work to Fomison for critique. funding to realise them. He took the Fomison pointed out to his young initiative and began literally taking friend the need for eyelids and other his art to the people. His tactics niceties to make for a convincing included delivering a sculpture to a representation. traffic island at a busy intersection and petitioning the Anglican Church Two years later, aged just 24, Llew to put his sculptures outside was a solo father when Adrienne Christchurch Cathedral in the Square. left him to go and live in Australia. An outdoor version of the Wrestlers Fomison, now Exhibitions Officer at made from red marble and concrete the Canterbury Society of Arts Gallery appeared in Hagley Park. Big, bold in Gloucester Street, selected 27 of and confrontational, his public works Llew’s works for a solo exhibition like Up and Over (1992) on the downstairs at the CSA in 1971. Forbes Lawn at Lincoln University, Upstairs in the Mair Gallery was express the joy of living and human another newly-graduated sculptor, relationships. They found their way Neil Dawson. Llew Summers into the hearts of many Cantabrians, the sculptor had arrived on the but some people were shocked that Christchurch art scene. these voluptuous nudes seemed to be popping up all over Christchurch. Six years later, helped by financial Critic David Brokenshire decried support provided by the Domestic them as pneumatic atrocities in The Purposes Benefit, Llew was working Press. full-time as a sculptor. He showed with Fomison at the Bosshard Gallery After the 1998 death of his second in Dunedin in 1976 and then again wife, Rose Long, Llew received a at Brooke/Gifford in Christchurch in Creative New Zealand travel grant 1979. Like his hero, Henry Moore, to study sculpture in Europe. He Llew used concrete as a medium but returned with a passion for icons and also carved in wood, always with a religious statuary, and an awakened 33 interest in spirituality. Commissioned important to me is to get a balance to make new Stations of the Cross between the physical and the for the centenary of the Cathedral of spiritual in life. We’re given a soul the Blessed Sacrament in Barbadoes and we’re given a body. Sculpture Street in 2005, he set to work on a provides a nice balance because series of plaques with nude figures. works can be made which are deep Alarmed by his well-endowed Christ and meaningful, but they require figure, parishioners asked him to add your physical body to produce them. a coyly arranged plaster loincloth to Rather than just being clever or veil the offending genitals. Despite smart the work must have soul.” such prudish reactions to his work, he continued to rejoice in the potential In 1996, the lyrics to Leonard of the nude to create empathy Cohen’s 1984 song “Dance Me to and convey his ideas about the the End of Love”, ironically inspired universality of human experience. by the Holocaust, were published alongside paintings by Fauvist artist Butterfly (2008), purchased for the Henri Matisse (1869-1954). The permanent collection at Auckland combination of Matisse’s images Botanic Gardens comes out of his of wild abandon with Cohen’s text renewed interest in spirituality in was inspirational for Llew. He saw a this period. It depicts a ponytailed parallel in one of his major themes: young woman raising one leg in the continual dance of attraction dance with her arms flung behind between lovers, where two beings her like wings, about to take flight. become one. After he had sculpted a Angels are everywhere it seems to couple dancing a tango out of a block suggest, and releasing the energy of wood to give the form solidity, he within the body is one way to find scaled it up to two metres in size, and them. This sculpture invokes Llew’s gave it the title To the end of love. often-quoted comment, “What’s It was included in the 2015/2016 iteration of Sculpture in the Gardens and has remained on site ever since.

Llew died at his home in Mount Pleasant of renal failure on 1 August 2019 at the age of 72. Both the house and the garden are a museum and archive of his lifetime of sculpting, and a wonderful memorial to his creative energy.

Linda Tyler, co-curator, Sculpture in the Gardens 2019-2020 34 Australian adventures

In early October last year, we departed South West Eco Discoveries (info@ for Adelaide to commence a three- southwestecodiscoveries.com. week journey that encompassed au), a small eco-tourism business some of the remarkable landscapes run by brothers Ryan and Mick and and biodiversity Australia has to they provided us with a wonderful offer. It included botanical hotspots experience. They told us jarrah in Western Australia, tropical Darwin (Eucalyptus marginata) was logged and arid central Australia. locally and exported to England where it was used in the London From Adelaide we took a cruise Underground. The Busselton jetty around Western Australia to Darwin, was constructed from jarrah and is we bussed to Kakadu and Litchfield the second longest wooden piled National Parks, then caught the Ghan jetty in the world at 2 kilometres. back to Adelaide. From Busselton we drove to Cape Western Australia has more than Naturaliste, a 650-million–year-old 10,000 recorded vascular plants, and granite cap with an abundance of Albany was a perfect place to start. wild plants. It is considered one of Our first stop was at Frenchmans the most spectacular spots in the Bay, then onto Stony Hill, and lastly Margaret River Region, with the the Gap which was a real highlight Indian Ocean on one side and bays with great sea views and abundant on the other. plant life. It was great to find the granite claw Plants included lots of Pimelea, flower (Calothamnus graniticus sticky tailflower (Anthocercis subsp. graniticus), the floral emblem viscosa), the Albany woolly bush of Busselton. We also encountered (Adenanthos sericeus), Banksia numerous Pimelea, spider orchids praemorsa, Dampiera linearis, (Caladenia applanata), cockies Clematis, Patersonia occidentalis, tongue (Templetonia retusa), Drosera, cowslip orchids (Caladenia Backhousia citriodora, Swan River flava) and Kennedia coccinea. myrtle (Hypocalymma robustum), lots of Xanthorrhoea, Rottnest Island A couple of days later we arrived in tea tree (Melaleuca lanceolata) and Busselton, which has a population of Darwinia citriodora. 38,000, and receives 800 to 1,200 mm of rainfall annually, mostly in Margaret River is famous for its wine, June and July. We booked a tour with and we also sampled chocolates and 35 olive oil products before returning George Brown Darwin Botanic to Busselton. On the drive back we Gardens features tropical plants from stopped on the roadside to view Northern Australia and around the masses of Anigozanthos manglesii. world. Most spectacular was a large spreading poinciana (Delonix regia). Next stop was Fremantle, and on I was particularly impressed by the disembarking we set off immediately extensive collection of baobabs for Kings Park. This famous botanic that included Adansonia digitata, garden is dedicated to native flora, A. grandidieri, A. perrieri and A. and their spring displays were gregorii from the Kimberley region. superb. It is almost a one-stop shop The cannonball tree (Couroupita for Western Australian wildflowers. guianensis) located near the entrance We viewed far too many spectacular was quite a talking point. plants to list them all, so I will restrain myself to just a few highlights such Our two days in Kakadu National as the spectacular kangaroo paws Park were fascinating. From the Anigozanthos manglesii, A. rufus, safety of riverboats we viewed lots A. viridis and the black kangaroo of saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus paw (Macropidia fuliginosa). Just porosus), known colloquially as as eye-catching were the many “salties”. Most were resting on pimeleas, Pimelea ferruginea, riverbanks, others ominously cruising P. spectabilis and P. physodes. in the water. In 1945 it was estimated The wax flower Chamelaucium( there were 90,000 crocodiles, down ciliatum) provided cool contrast to 3,000 by 1970. Numbers are now amongst massed wildflowers, the estimated to exceed 100,000. spectacular Prostanthera magnifica caught everyone’s attention, as did There are more than 5,000 aboriginal the intensely blue Brachyscome art sites in Kakadu, the most prolific iberidifolia and the threatened in Australia. The rock art of Ubirr tells Darwinia carnea. stories of their land and culture, with small human figures common. Red In mid-October we arrived in ochre and animal blood were used. Darwin and headed for Charles Darwin National Park, 48 hectares Savannah woodlands comprising of savannah woodland. Woollybutt mainly Eucalyptus and grasses trees (Eucalyptus miniata) with cover some 80% of Kakadu, and black trunks for fire protection were they support abundant wildlife with prominent. We were told branches numerous crocodiles, abundant hollowed out by termites were used birdlife in wetlands and water to make didgeridoos and that they courses, and of course lots of tropical originated in Darwin. plants. Unlike here in New Zealand the vast northern coastal wetlands 36 of Australia are still largely intact. grevilleas, Pandanus, sand palms and cycads. Trees were typically Kakadu National Park has 1,526 plant not large owing to growing mainly in species. The main tree is paperbark rock with little or no topsoil. (Melaleuca) of which we saw three species. The leaves of paperbarks The termite mounds were intriguing. were used to flavour cooking, the Termite cathedrals are the largest, trunks to make canoes, water was each mound apparently containing extracted by cutting the burrs, and 2 million termites. Even more bark was used for plates, cups, fascinating are the tall thin magnetic mattresses, blankets, torches and to termite mounds that all face within wrap newborn babies and the dead. 10° of north/south, the termites The bark regrows after harvest. using magnetic fields to orientate the mounds. They are also known as We encountered three species of tombstone mounds. Early pioneers Livistona, the sand palm (L. humilis), used termite mounds to make floors, the wispy fan palm (L. inermis) and huts and also tennis courts. Mataranka fan palm (L. rigida). The final stage of our journey was Lining the riverbanks were fresh on the Ghan from Darwin back to water pandanus (Pandanus Adelaide. Our train was 902 metres aquaticus) that aboriginals make long, had 285 guests and 49 staff, paint brushes from by chewing the and it was one of the best travel roots. P. spiralis, the screw palm, experiences I have had. But then I was used for tucker, medicine, as do like trains. fuel for cooking, and the fruit has edible nuts. We had three stops, the first at Katherine where we took a guided Birdlife on the waterways is prolific, cruise of Katherine Gorge. Next day with magpie geese, azure kingfishers, we arrived at Alice Springs where sea eagles, snake necked darters, we visited Alice Springs Desert Park. little pied cormorants, black-winged This is a great place to view and learn stilts, plumed whistling ducks, a about the animals and plants that comb crested jacana and purple inhabit central Australian deserts. swamp hens known to us as pukeko. This included an outstanding demonstration of free-flying native We also visited Litchfield National birds such as Australian magpie, Park where the vegetation is mostly barn owl, Australian hobby falcon, open woodland savannah with whistling kite, black kite, black- Darwin stringybarks (Eucalyptus breasted buzzard, white-necked tetrodonta), and Darwin woollybutts heron and tawny frogmouth. (E. miniata), acacias, banksias, 37 Next day we arrived at Coober Pedy, the renowned opal-mining town and the driest place in Australia with just 130 mm annual rainfall.

Most of the locals live underground where temperatures are much cooler than the searing above-ground temperature which can reach 50°C.

The highlight was visiting Kanku- Breakaways Conservation Park where the tenacity of plants is exemplified by the likes of mulga (Acacia aneura) and dead finish (Acacia tetragonophylla), tough gnarled shrubs or small trees that are perfectly adapted to survival in the desert.

Mulga (Acacia aneura) is a widespread shrub or small tree with needle-like leaves (actually In the Woodland habitat were phyllodes or flattened petioles) that numerous plants adapted to the arid are erect to minimise exposure to climate. Notable trees were desert midday sun but capture the gentler bloodwood (Eucalyptus deserticola), morning and evening light. Precious deep-rooted box gums (Eucalyptus rain is directed down the leaves normantonensis), river red gums and branches to the soil close to to (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and the trunk, effectively trebling the ghost gums (Corymbia aparrerinja, effective rainfall. The roots harbour with roots reaching depths of 100 nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and they metres). penetrate deep into the soil to reach moisture. As with most wattles the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens is a seeds are edible and nutritious. 20-minute walk from Alice Springs, a tough slog in 40°C heat. However, it We were told that in the most was all worthwhile when I stumbled severe of droughts, that last plant across perhaps the most famous of still alive will be dead finish (Acacia all desert plants, Sturt’s desert pea tetragonophylla). And that is the (Swainsona formosa). finish of my story. Jack Hobbs 38 Clockwise from top left: Anigozanthos manglesii, Caladenia flava cowslip orchid, Prostanthera magnifica, 39 Pimelea spectabilis and Darwinia carnea. plant name in the Auckland Botanic Gardens Perennial Garden Acacia aneura Mulga Photo: Jack Hobbs

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