July 28, 2008 A walk in the garden, through history, in Christchurch, and at a quarry

Colin teaches us about the Avon River and Christchurch Botanical Gardens.

We began our day of walks in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens with Colin as our tour guide.  We enjoyed all the food for thought about past-laid plans and ongoing formulating future plans  for Christchurch and surrounds as we learned about the Avon river that runs through much of Christchurch and the Botanical Garden.  With the Earthquakes having changed the landscape, the Garden City need not continue with the traditional English lawns, but opt for its native identity or a combination of the two.  In the past, plans concerning the Avon only considered it landscaped with lawn.  Additional trees and plantings along its shores change the flood plain zones and will thus influence city planning.  We also learned that the gardens have, over the past few years, served as a place to visit as a safe haven of sorts for Christchurch residents who have survived through the earthquakes.

We got to explore the newly opened Visitor's Center at the gardens as well.

Walking through the Rose Garden.

Kakabeak in bloom in the native New Zealand Garden.

We further took to heart that, in general, botanical gardens highlight the native plants and offer plants from other parts of the world as a secondary enhancement.  At the Christchurch Botanical Gardens, the more traditional English garden brought by early settlers 150 years ago is featured first, with the native New Zealand plant garden off to the side. We toured both and we taken by the beauty of the formality of the English rose garden laying in wait to blossom in Spring and equally with the beauty of the texture of the native New Zealand plants and the early spring blooms of the kakabeak.  It was interesting to compare 100-years growth for non-native plants like the incredibly tall California Sequoia with the slower-growing, native plants and trees like the Kauri which can grow more than 160 feet tall. 

The Peacock Fountain with the Arts Center in the back ground on the right.

Dr. Hos and students checking out a Moa at the Canterbury Museum.

We lunched in the sun by the Peacock Fountain before walking in the Canterbury Museum. There we explored the Moa, Maori, Paua House, Old Christchurch street, Earthquake Photos, Antarctica, Bird and many more exhibits.

 

The Christchurch Trams are running again in Christchurch after being inactive since the Earthquakes. Restoration work continues on the Arts Center on the right.

Next we were off for a brief walk to view a little of the city were restoration efforts are taking place on the Arts Center and Art Gallery.

 

The Squad in the Sister City Korean Garden at Halswell Quarry.

After afternoon tea back at the Botanical Garden Visitor’s Center, we went for a short hike at Halswell Quarry where we saw where the stones for some of the beautiful building we saw during the day (Canterbury Museum and Arts Center) came from.

Another beautiful day! Hope everyone gets good rest after the action-packed weekend! – Meryl and Mark