Newsletter - Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden
Transcription
Newsletter - Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden
P.O. Box 28-065 Kelburn, Wellington 6150 Newsletter March 2014 Featuring: Wellington Botanic Garden’s Native Forest Area (p3) How valuable is the Botanic Garden? (p5) The Children’s Garden (p6) Bulb Order 2014 (p10) The Painted Garden – a Real Winner President’s Patch The massive storm which hit Christchurch and environs on 5 March demonstrated once again, as if further proof were needed, the power of nature. On the one hand we need nature and the elements in order to be able to grow plants and ultimately to survive; on the other, “100 year events” have the capacity to destroy what has been painstakingly put together. In the wake of the storm, I sent a message of concern and solidarity to the Friends of the Christchurch Botanic Garden. John Clemens, Curator of the Christchurch Garden responded: We are still here! We were not swept away by the swell of the Avon although, on the day, it was hard to tell which was river, which lake, which road and which someone’s front garden. This photograph looking out from the edge of a very soggy Victoria Lake in Hagley Park towards the new Botanic Garden building which is nearing completion shows a part of the extent of the flood. We sometimes consider that our Garden, perched as it is on steep hillsides with few flat areas and broken up by ravines and gullies, is hardly ideal as a site for a Botanic Garden. But then flooding of the type suffered in Christchurch is hardly likely to be a threat to us. Nature has of course other means of discommoding us. Our Garden lies right on the fault line running up Tinakori Road/Glenmore Street. It will surely be affected by any major earthquake hitting Wellington. On the other hand, we might reflect that how sensible it is to have a green area on a fault line rather than high rise buildings or densely populated suburbs. I am not sure that the founders of our Garden had earthquake risk mitigation in their minds when they mapped out its location but even if not that is one more reason to be happy we have a Botanic Garden adjacent to the centre of the city. On that rather sombre note, may I extend my best wishes to all members and hope that 2014 may be a healthy and successful year for you. Frank Wilson March 2014 flood Christchurch Botanic Garden ____________________________________________ Botanic Bulletin Surveying We have decided to change the way that we conduct our surveys to see if we can get more robust information from them. There has been some disquiet about the way the questions are put and it has always been difficult to date to get the sampling spread required of the surveys. However they have been better than nothing! We are going to try a new format which will still involve staff and volunteers but only to ask people if they would agree to participate in a survey and to collect their email addresses so the survey can be completed on-line. More on this as it comes to hand. Treehouse My thanks to the Friends who offered to volunteer at the Treehouse over the summer weekends. In the end we were able to employ a student, Catherine Chegwidden, to cover the weekends for us. Catherine has been a great ambassador for the garden and has been able do research and data entry work for the team along the way. The Treehouse will close for weekend opening at the end of April. Children’s Garden Event Thanks also to the Friends for their support for the launch of the Children’s Garden Fundraising campaign. Intended as an awareness event, we were fortunate to also gain a number of donations on the evening. The campaign will become more publicly visible from now on – much of the focus to date has been on funding applications to philanthropic organisations. We are now beginning to tackle the corporate phase. Any contacts or introductions to potential funders would be greatly appreciated Management Plan participate in that process if you wish to make a further contribution. Power Plant Power Plant is well under way and the publicity and media response has been invaluable for the Botanic Garden. There has been and continues to be criticism that it is a paid event in a ‘free garden’ but it is at a time when the Garden is, and has always been, closed to the public. Attendance has been strong with the first three nights booked out. Chalkle I have forwarded new information about Chalkle. This is now a standalone web site and has the opportunity for the Friends to create their own ‘channel’ for events. With a membership database of between 2 – 3,000 this is a valuable pool of potential people to attend your events. We will also be exploring this for use with the Botanic Garden events. The management plan is now well under way with the final compilation of the draft expected to be completed this week. The plan plots a Staff positive path ahead for the Garden towards Alistair Whitton, who is just completing his building a stronger role in education, apprenticeship, has been appointed as the conservation and its place as the Capital City gardener in the main gardens. Ali replaces garden. Otari with its conservation emphasis Kirsten Lowe who has taken up one of the will be pitched as New Zealand’s Native Botanic business unit health and safety and training Garden. The plan is scheduled to go before the advisor roles Council’s Environment Committee on 20 March David Sole, on behalf of the before being released for public consultation on Botanic Garden Team 8 April. The Friends have an opportunity to ____________________________________________ Wellington Botanic Garden’s Native Forest Areas Background A remarkable feature of the Botanic Garden is the presence of 8 ha of native forest, with some trees which may pre-date European settlement. Wellingtonians and visitors are indeed lucky to have such forest within 1 km of the Central Business District. The botanical, ecological and heritage significance of the forest is particularly high in nation-wide terms. In 1875 John Buchanan undertook a botanical survey of the forest, preparing a hand-written list of the native plants he found. there (See the appendix in The Botanic Garden, Wellington, A New Zealand History 1840-1987; Winsome Shepherd and Walter Cook. 1988. Millwood Press). According to Shepherd and Cook “ … this is probably the first detailed account of the botany of any area in Wellington ... Few realise the significance … of this vestige of bush and, if it is to survive, it requires a very sensitive management policy. Unless this is carried out there is real danger that in future years through ignorance of its significance and by the continuous encroachment on the area its historical value could be destroyed completely … while the invasion of karaka seedlings will modify other parts … introduced weeds require constant control if young seedlings destined to form the future forest are to establish and survive … “ In 1984 the NZ Biological Resources Centre listed the Botanic Garden's native forest areas in Biological Resources of the Wellington Region, giving them the highest ranking, ie Schedule 1, because of the significance of its composition: kohekohe – tītoki – kānuka – māhoe. In the same era, the Wildlife Service categorised the native forest areas as sites of special wildlife interest. The reasons given were: bird links with other patches of forest in and around Wellington City scenic value in residential area educational, easy access site tourist attraction In 1999, Dr Geoff Park, compiled for Wellington City Council, "An Inventory of the Surviving Traces of the Primary Forest of Wellington City." In it he states, "... all around the city, out of sight and mind, in gully after gully where last century's fires couldn't reach, tiny traces of the old, pre-settlement, primary forest survived ...''. The purpose of Dr Park's survey was to provide a definitive inventory of every site in Wellington City in which tree species that are characteristic of the district's primary forests, still survived. These included the five podocarps rimu, mataī, kahikatea, tōtara and miro; also the broadleaved species: pukatea, kohekohe, tawa, tītoki, hīnau, tūrepo, rewarewa and kaikōmako. Dr. Park listed three Botanic Garden sites, 0.406.8, 0406.9 and 0406.10, as primary forest remnants. Primary forest remnants Our own field work in the native forest areas in the Botanic Garden on contract to the Friends in 2002–03, confirmed Dr Park's assertion that the native forest areas specified, are indeed Primary Forest Remnants according to his own definition. Thus, despite some damage and deterioration over the years, the native forest areas have retained in essence, their kaumatua status, a main distinction. The Stable Gully Interpretation Board on Scrub Path describes WCC's and the Friends' efforts to restore and protect their high natural values: “Our treasured native forest remnants are now being restored in association with the Friends of Wellington Botanic Garden. This is a gradual process which includes removing nonindigenous plants, controlling pests, growing forest plants on the forest borders, collecting seed and propagating seedlings to plant back in the forest.” In our opinion this work is essential to arrest further decline. Survey for the Friends of Wellington Botanic Garden In November 2002, the Friends of Wellington Botanic Garden, in consultation with Tony Williams, then-Curator/Manager, Wellington Botanic Garden, commissioned us to do a botanical survey of the native forest, “… to reexamine the health and present state of the bush remnants in the Botanic Garden”. The native forest in the garden comprises several more-or-less contiguous areas which we numbered and named as follows: 1. Salamanca Slope 2. Druid Hill/Stable Gully 3. Australian Garden/Play Area 4. Cable Car 5. Glen Slope Our report was published in May 2003, and revised in March 2005. The native forest areas in 2014 In preparation for writing this article, we have walked all the paths and ways, the perimeters, and un-tracked areas of Salamanca Slope native forest area. Salamanca Slope – the margins This native forest area is bounded by Norwood Path, The Dell, Junction Path and Mānuka Path, and is traversed by Serpentine Way. When visiting the site, we looked for evidence of: the natural recruitment of locally occurring native plant species evidence of plantings of ecologically appropriate species around the margins of the forest areas, to protect them from the edge effect, i.e. the drying out of the plant community by wind and sun infestations of pest plants and other introduced weed species infestations of native species which do not occur naturally in Wellington Ecological District browse by possums, and scouring in gullies, slumping of slopes, litter, vandalism, etc. We were pleased to see that beside Norwood Path and part of Junction Path, native species such as Coprosma propinqua var. propinqua, coastal tree daisy (Olearia solandri), and tree hebe (Hebe parviflora) were planted some years ago to reduce the edge effect, but regrettably two of the other species planted, are not naturally-occurring in Wellington Ecological District. The Botanic Garden kānuka forest is highly significant in Wellington and most of the large trees are in good condition despite their age. Beside Serpentine Way there is impressive kānuka forest to 25–40cm at breast height (dbh), with some kānuka as well as mānuka regeneration. We were pleased to see that the barrier along Serpentine Way barrier has facilitated regeneration of some understorey species in the gullies of Waipiro Stream. Previously children used to slide down the slopes, destroying seedlings. In The Dell, two of the large, historic, NZ passionfruit vine's branches have been severed for no obvious reason. The kohekohe forest is of impressive stature, including trees up to 40 cm dbh. Unfortunately, Hoheria populnea, a weedy lacebark, is numerous in places, as are the weeds tradescantia, strawberry laurel and hazel pomaderris. Salamanca Slope - the interior We traversed the forest on a compass bearing of 172° true, from a point c25 m uphill from Serpentine Way, near the Overseer's House, to the junction of Norwood Path and Mānuka Path. This traverse involved steep slopes, occasional windfalls, some dense vegetation, and some more open areas. Particularly impressive were three very large NZ passionfruit vines, (a primary forest status indicator), with their diameters indicating considerable age, a massive quadruple-trunked 120 cm dbh kānuka, a kohekohe 50 cm dbh with multiple limbs, and a very large rewarewa and tītoki. Seedlings of the large forest trees and understorey species were common. A tawa seedling and a black maire seedling (planted ?) were also noted. Other species included white rātā as ground cover, māhoe, kānono, bush rice grass, tarata and five-finger. Numerous species of ferns were abundant in the ground cover, and groves of silver fern were frequent. Of the weed species, we noted seedlings of karaka, escallonia and Hoheria populnea, (the weedy lacebark), and of Pseudopanax lessonii hybrid. In the light gap around the stump of the large felled pine, are a native fireweed species, NZ passionfruit, shaking brake, and dense infestations of several weed species, e.g. black nightshade. Climbing steadily up the gully towards the end of the traverse, we were delighted to see seven nīkau from 0.5m to c 4m high. Near the top of the gully and the junction of Norwood Path and Mānuka Path, are the weeds tradescantia, montbretia, veld grass and narrow-leaved plantain, plus the native rengarenga, coastal flax, Anamanthele lessionana, Sophora microphylla, and a 20m high kānuka with a 38cm dbh. Story: Barbara Mitcalfe and Chris Horne ____________________________________________ How valuable is the Botanic Garden? We all appreciate the Wellington Botanic Garden and value very much all its various attributes. We support strongly the funding provided by the Wellington City Council and are convinced that this is ratepayers’ money spent to good effect. But is it possible to calculate the monetary value of the benefits provided by the Garden? Simon Coats, a Victoria University student, has sought to do just that. His report makes interesting reading, and we are grateful that he has provided the following summary of his work for the Newsletter. The Wellington Botanic Garden provides a wide range of benefits to its visitors and to Wellington City, but the full extent and value of these benefits are often unknown to those who enjoy them. As part of a summer research scholarship from Victoria University, I conducted a study over the summer that identified the ecosystem services (benefits the humans receive from ecosystems) that are most relevant to the Wellington Botanic Garden, and expressed these in monetary terms. This study aimed to allow the direct and indirect benefits of the Botanic Garden to be more easily recognised, both by the public and from an expense management perspective. Using a combination of academic studies and local information, estimates of the monetary value of 10 of the 12 ecosystems services identified were made. Most of the value associated with the Botanic Garden was found to relate to cultural benefits such as heritage or recreation, with direct ecosystem services such as air quality enhancement providing a small but important contribution. Tourism was found to be the most valuable of these, with an estimated economic value of $21 million per annum. This value represents the amount of tourist expenditure on accommodation and food that can be attributed to the Botanic Garden. High values were also estimated for recreation ($6.8 million per annum), physical health enhancement ($3.2 million per annum), and aesthetic value ($11 million). The other ecosystem services included in the study (biodiversity conservation, air quality enhancement, water management, heritage, mental health, education community and passive values) had estimated values below $500,000, or were unable to be valued in monetary terms. Many of these values were derived from services that most visitors would not be aware of. For example, the duck pond which is generally admired for its beauty is also highly valuable as a sediment pit that stops an annual 20m3 of sediment from blocking the city’s stormwater network. Increasing visitor awareness of sources of value such as this could further increase their appreciation of many aspects of the Botanic Garden, which would in turn increase its value. The pine trees at the north end of the garden, which are some of the oldest in New Zealand, illustrate this very well. Increased visitor awareness of the genetic value and heritage value of these trees would likely lead to greater appreciation of them, which would enhance the heritage value and biodiversity conservation value of the Botanic Garden. ____________________________________________ The Children’s Garden One of the major projects that the Friends have embarked on for 2013-14 is to support the proposal for the development of a Children’s Garden in the Botanic Garden. This support is both through becoming the nominal sponsor of the project and providing seed-funding to enable the major fundraising effort required to get under way. The Children’s Garden is planned to be a worldclass interactive garden where children can explore, discover and connect with the natural world. In this “living classroom” children will learn about plants and their importance to our lives and environment. There will be a full-time educator working with school and community groups. Young people will be taught about the vital role plants play in our lives and encourage them to respect all living things. They will come to understand that we rely on plants for our food, shelter and clean air – and that plants provide many of our medicines, fabrics and fuels. Jesse with kumara Ollie looking up from the Garden The garden will encourage hands-on exploration of plants and their uses. They will be able to harvest food, make compost and learn how to grow plants. It will complement and extend activities already under way in a number of schools in the region. The design, construction and education programme will cost around $2.5 million, of which $750,000 has been contributed by the Plimmer Trust and $50,000 by the Lagoda Legacy. A further $1.7 million is therefore needed, as ratepayer funds are not being used. Further philanthropic, community and business support is therefore being sought. The official fundraising launch was held on 13 February. The plan is to begin construction of the garden in November 2014, with the garden established by mid-2015, and an official opening in February 2016 once the new plants are established. Garden management is in the final stages of selecting a landscape design company after having received 10 tenders from Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Australia. The design process will include: Researching and working with children to identify better the stimuli they respond best to Meeting and discussing with representatives of migrant communities to identify crop plants that might be desirable and possible to grow in the garden and meet their expectations Consulting with Mana Whenua to identify those elements that they consider essential to be included in the garden Consulting with environmental educators to understand ways in which the garden will meet the education curriculum and how that might be best delivered. If you would like to assist with fundraising, please contact Katherine Monks, (04) 806 4723 or (021) 247 9723; e-mail [email protected]. Story: John Larkindale With material provided by Katherine Monks & Ann McLean Location of the proposed Children’s Garden in Wellington Botanic Garden (Not to scale) The Quilted Garden – A look back The plan was hatched many months ago – to hold a quilt exhibition in the Treehouse and to theme the annual bedding in the Main Garden to complement the quilts. And as you will know, the gardeners had a lot of fun choosing patchwork patterns to replicate in plants, in the end having to sacrifice some of the wilder ideas in favour of future visual clarity. Sheryl Meech, a well-known Kapiti quilter, curated the exhibition, sourcing a fantastic and wide range of floral-themed quilts. This Treehouse exhibition was much enjoyed, with many people making a special trip to see it and Treehouse visitor numbers far exceeding the norm for January. In fact, people are still asking for it, to their evident disappointment when the fact that it finished weeks ago is revealed. The patchwork gardens, on the other hand, have kept going like the proverbial Energiser Bunny, only losing their gleam and gloss at the start of March. The marigolds, looking good right from the start, surprised us all at how they looked fresh right through. The plan to have a succession of images worked reasonably well, but it must be said that, having waited some time for the rail-fence design in geraniums to be revealed, it didn’t work at all due to the white geraniums turning out to be ‘mixed’. The bedding plant Iresine, which can be difficult at times, came up trumps, revealing stunning definition in the ‘Grandmother’s Garden’ and star patterns. Visitors’ delight at the floral patchwork patterns is obvious and many have been effusive in their praise. Meanwhile back at the coalface, Garden staff and management are rapt with this the way this collaborative effort worked out! And yes, for next summer we have another cunning plan … Story and images Charmaine Scott Wellington Botanic Garden _______________________________________________ Get in Closer The Friends of the Botanic Garden, is pleased to support the official opening of Helen Mechen’s exhibition of paintings Get in Closer, and all Friends are invited to attend this event on Saturday, 5 April, 1.30-3.00pm. Please RSVP to [email protected] or phone 499 1400 by Tuesday, 1 April 2014. capture the range of magnifications found within the subject of an image. If you are unable to attend the opening, Get in Closer will be in the Treehouse between 1 April and 2 May. The Treehouse Visitor Centre is open 9am4pm weekdays, 10am-3pm weekends until May; closed public holidays and weekends from May. A love of nature and a fascination of microscopy inspired Helen Mechen to create paintings that are a mixture of scale, texture, form and colour, drawn from the stunning natural beauty that surrounds us. Helen is a horticultural technician at the Council’s Berhampore nursery. She has always been fascinated by the detail in nature and has been drawing intricate images from nature since young. She undertook a design diploma after leaving school, majoring in textile printing, where she aimed to make fabrics that captured the textures and pattern found in nature; images such as lichens on trees, kelp, plants, using a range of magnifications. This exhibition marks the first time she has branched out into painting, and her work very much maintains the illustrative quality of drawing, while aiming to Titoki Egg ________________________________________________ Graham Derby 1934 – 2013 Friends will be saddened to learn that the long-time printer of the Newsletter, Graham Derby, passed away on 8 December 2013, aged 79. Graham was born in New Plymouth, attending Vogeltown School and New Plymouth Boys’ High School. In 1953, Graham was awarded a place at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, in the UK. After completing his training, he flew Vampires with 75 Squadron, RNZAF, ending up as commander of 3 Squadron flying helicopters. He served in Vietnam, and retired on Anzac Day 1989 with the rank of Wing Commander following a distinguished career. His contribution to the Friends was very much behind the scenes, but we shall miss his expertise and his “can do” attitude in getting out the Newsletter as quickly as possible on each occasion. Material drawn from: the “Taranaki Daily News”, 18 December 2013 Wings over New Zealand web-site _______________________________________________ Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden Bulb Order 2014 As is usual at this time of the year, the Friends of the Botanic Garden are able to offer for purchase a selection of bulbs. An order form is attached at the end of this Newsletter. Spring Green Isle de France TULIPS: 5 bulbs for $5-00 Tulips new to the Garden Apricot Parrot Black Jack Camargue Cheers Fabio Something stronger: Red: Isle de France - the reddest red of all Pretty Woman – lily shape, good strong red Carola – cherry red Gerrit van der Valk - red with spectacular wide gold borders Fabio (new) – fringed, orange-red with yellow fringe Pale shades: Donna Bella – a shorty; cream, carmine patch and leaves spotted dashed purple Angelique – peony, apple blossom pink Apricot Beauty – coral/apricot Apricot Parrot (new) – mixture of creamy-white, salmon pink, green Camargue (new) – white with soft pink brushings Cheers (new) – creamy-yellow/ivory white Spring Green – white with green flare Purple Prince – large lilac purple flower Orange Princess – peony, orange with purple flare Black Jack (new) – dark purple, almost black Strong Gold – golden yellow For a purple and white effect in the garden White Dream and Purple Prince And a bed of gold Strong Gold SPECIE CROCUS: 10 bulbs for $5-00 Cream Beauty - rich cream Blue Pearl – soft blue Sun Kissed - yellow KAPITI COAST BULBS: Freesia Burtonii: NZ raised fragrant white flowers, yellow markings; $5 for 10 Ixia: pink, yellow or white $3 for 5 Paperwhite daffodils (N papyraceus): $2 for 5 An order form is attached at the end of this Newsletter. Coming Events Sunday, 30 March Local pot-luck lunch Celebrate autumn and taste the season - bring a dish made with something grown around Wellington - ideally something from your own garden. Share tips on growing vegetables, recipes and tastes with other gardeners and foodies. BYO plates and cutlery! Midday Pot-luck lunch, Soundshell lawn (Treehouse if wet) 1.15pm Bee keeping with Frank Lindsay (Treehouse) 2pm Herbs with Hannah Zwartz (Treehouse) 1 April – 2 May Get in Closer art exhibition Treehouse Visitor Centre, 9am-4pm weekdays, 10am-3pm weekends, closed public holidays. Free entry. Saturday 12 April, 10am-2pm Berhampore Nursery Open Day Emerson Street, Berhampore, Wellington Plant sales, talks, demonstrations and free advice Talks: 10.30am Propagation demonstration - Helen Mechen & Cindy Telford, Wellington City Council nurseries 11.15am Kereru Discovery Project – World Wildlife Fund 12.15pm Interactive workshop: children and gardens - Karl Noldan & Ali Whitton, Wellington Botanic Garden For more information, phone 499 4444 or visit Wellington.govt.nz Friday 25 April, 1.30pm Anzac Day Walk of Remembrance This walk looks at plants from some of the countries involved in the World Wars and plants associated with peace and remembrance. Meet at the Cable Car entrance for this easy 60-minute walk. Cost: $4. This walk replaces the regular 3rd Sunday of the month one. Monday 28 April, 11am The Rose Garden and its amazing story The Lady Norwood Rose Garden was not always the beautiful garden it is today – learn why during this 60-minute stroll. Meet at the Begonia House. If it’s wet the talk will take place in the Begonia House. Cost: $4 Fridays 2 & 30 May, 27 June, 25 July at 7.30pm Glow in the dark glow-worm tours Meet at the Founders’ Entrance on Glenmore Street for these fascinating tours into the world of the glow-worm. The tours take about one hour. Please bring a torch. Adults $5; children under-12 free. Sunday 18 May, 11am Old-fashioned botanical ramble In this gentle ramble we’ll consider the main features of plants that characterise the New Zealand flora, look at the often-strange origins of the scientific names of plants, marvel at the humble leaf as an enabler of life on earth, have a quick look the subtle but important differences between flowering plants and conifers and between monocots and dicots, consider the elegant tree fern’s clumsiness in building a trunk, and keep a beady eye out for the poisonous plants and fungi. Meet at the Cable Car entrance for this easy 90-minute walk downhill. Cost: $4 Monday 26 May, 11am Gondwana and our native plants On this walk we look at the history of some of our native plants and their connection with other countries that were once part of Gondwanaland. Meet at the Cable Car entrance for this moderate 90-minute walk. Cost: $4. Sunday 15 June, 11am A bit about bark The focus is on bark, its beauty and its hidden treasures. Meet at the Cable Car entrance for this moderate 90-minute walk. Cost: $4. Monday 23 June, 11am Plants and New Zealand poems We look at some of the plants in the Botanic Garden and read poems written about them. Meet on the uphill side of the playground for this easy 75-minute walk. Cost: $4. _______________________________ Friends of Wellington’s Botanic Gardens, P O Box 28-065, Kelburn, Wellington 6150 President: Frank Wilson; phone (04) 475 7337; e-mail: [email protected] Secretary: Website: www.friendswbg.org.nz Newsletter Editor: John Larkindale; phone (04) 385 2933; e-mail: [email protected] Typeset and printed by Browning Secretarial Services Ltd: phone (04) 385 4985; fax (04) 385 4279; e-mail: [email protected] THE FRIENDS OF THE WELLINGTON BOTANIC GARDEN BULBS ORDER FORM 2014 From:_________________________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Telephone No:________________________________ Email:________________________________________ Bulb Name Quantity Total Cost ($) Postage $5.00 TOTAL Please make cheque payments to Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden and add $5.00 to your cheque if you need your order posted. Send cheque and order form to: Angela Hill 25A Woodmancote Road Khandallah WELLINGTON 6035 Telephone: (04) 479 5580