Garden Convenor’s Annual Report
2019
It is my pleasure to present the Heritage
Park Garden Management Report on behalf of the committee for
2019.
As I reflect on our gardening activities since the
last AGM, I am encouraged by how much we achieve in six working
bees! One challenge was the final clearing of the rhododendron
trial plots and replanting rather large and heavy trial
rhododendrons into the main garden. Trialling was an interesting
project, set up to identify and promote excellence within the
range of NZ bred rhododendrons. Our fellow trialists, Pukeiti
and Marshwood eventually pulled out of the scheme, however we
did trial for thirteen years, long enough to publish a list of
five top performing rhododendrons to be recommended to the NZRA
Council, for Awards of Distinction. My job was to source three
rhododendrons for each trial area, nine in total, often, times
nine or ten plants, quite a feat finding this number of plants.
A huge vote of thanks to Lindsay Davies who evaluated, two or
three times over the season, the merit requirements, established
by the committee. Rodney and Scott Wilson must also be
acknowledged, as they drew the short straw in helping us lift
heavy five year plus plants on to trailers, or to various sites
around the garden. The use of the Cross Hills machinery was much
appreciated, and we could not have managed without their help.
Heritage Park continues to trial new plants but in a more
informal way within the garden.
Arborist
At the beginning of this year we continued lifting and
thinning out trees causing too much shade and overcrowding. The
area of attack was mainly on the north-east corner and the big
leaf garden. Surplus trees in the northern corner were removed
to make room to realign the track for safer access to the top
lawn and to prepare the sloping bank to accommodate a collection
of R. augustinii plus hardy blue hybrid rhododendrons. Time was
also spent tidying up overlooked snow damaged conifers and
opening spaces above the big leaf species. Mulching this was a
big job and we are very grateful, as always, to Fraser
Robinson’s generosity re the mulcher.
Lawn Maintenance
The lawns as always, look trim and tidy and the weeds are
kept at bay. Many thanks Clint for your constant work.
Planting
The R. yakushimanum
hybrid garden has been planted and plants have settled in well
despite it being a dry summer. This I’m sure was because of the
very heavy application of rotted hay, salvaged by the supervisor
of community workers from behind the stock sheds at Manfield
Park.
Seventy species, many collected and grown on by Sue
Davies have been planted at the park by Lindsay. Heritage Park
is very privileged to have the support from these two
enthusiasts as they share their love of species with us. Thank
you to the many hours you put in expanding and upgrading our
collection.
In early February, newly appointed Rhododendron
Collections and Special Projects Officer, Andrew Brooker visited
Heritage Park to source endangered species material from our
collection. This is part of a global project to preserve
endangered species ex situ. The rhododendrons have propagated
well, and these plants will be shared with other Botanic
Gardens, as well as renewing our aging plants, so very much a
win win arrangement. We have been culling some of our struggling
and unhealthy rhododendrons and towards the end of last year
propagating material went to Cross Hills. Rodney and Faith have
always been most obliging propagating small amounts for us.
During February Gordon Collier and Doug Gordon planted suitable
water loving plants around some of the ponds, as well as
spreading treasures around the garden, many just making an
appearance!
Shade trees purchased this season by the Trust
are Aesculus carnea `Briotti’, Gleditsia `Ruby
Lace”, Gleditsia `Skyline’, and seedlings of Cornus
controversa, Acer davidii and Styrax japonica
were donated by volunteers.
Completed Projects
Management has learnt from experience that while the weather
is dry, it sometimes pays to move before the season commences.
Early in February, Jim Howard and Lindsay Davies organised Tony
McIntyre Contracting Ltd to replace a culvert at the Hawkes Bay
crossing. In the past this culvert often blocked causing
flooding problems. The boundary track was realigned and a small
drain and crossing formed in the northern corner. Management is
very pleased with the results. At the same time the old trial
plots were levelled, and extra soil brought in by Tony McIntyre
to fill uneven ground. Grass seed has been sown and we have had
a reasonable strike.
We have amassed piles of mulch around
the garden and the community workers and volunteers have done a
wonderful job of spreading it. Thank you to John and Diny Dermer
for their generous donation of bales of pea hay – to a gardener
it is like gold!
Dead heading was a drawn- out affair
this year and it is interesting to see the effects of the dry
summer and the heavy flowering of last season. Early dead headed
plants have good bud growth, while other rhododendrons are
affected by heavy seed set and no dead heading. We live in hope
of getting this done on time each year!!
Heritage Park once
again had a plant and flower stall at the Kimbolton Sculpture
Fair raising $538.Our hydrangea heads continue to sell well,
thank you to Mary Manning, Alison Short, Daryl and Linda Rowan
and the Chairman.
In conclusion, with my lengthy sojourn
in Hobart, from March to June, I was saddened to hear of the
passing of three Heritage Park gardeners, John White, Denis
Garrett, and Robert Young. All will be remembered fondly for
their special involvement with the garden. They will be greatly
missed. The rain has paused long enough for Spring to arrive and
we look forward to a bonny flowering in the park. To Fellow
Managers, Trustees, Volunteers and Friends of Heritage Park,
thank you for your continued support, it is greatly appreciated.
Sue Wagstaff
Convenor
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