News from Laurenson Landscape Design July 2010
What a wet start we have had to the winter season here in Auckland! At least with the solstice now behind us, we can look forward to the days getting longer.
In this issue:
The Garden Design School
We have an exciting new venture: we are starting a Garden Design School, initially running in Grey Lynn here in Auckland, but with plans to take it around the country in time. At the Garden Design School we will run courses teaching people to design their own gardens, with the help of an experienced landscape designer. These courses will be held one morning a week and run for 8 weeks, with the first course scheduled to start the last week of July. For further information check out The Garden Design School website.
Sustaining Auckland - The Role of Trees
On Arbor Day, Saturday June 5, I attended a seminar, Sustaining Auckland - the Role of Trees, run by The Tree Council. The Tree Council was originally established to promote the protection, management and planting of trees in the urban environment.
The first speaker, Bryan Gould, from the Notable Trees Trust, suggested that Auckland is not only a city of sails, but also a city of trees (I would add we are also a city of volcanoes). The view from the top of One Tree Hill provides ample evidence of this. We want to keep it this way, but Auckland is at risk of losing significant numbers of mature and developing trees when tree protection rules are removed from District Plans in January 2012.
Pohutukawa at Buckleton Beach
We all recognise that mature trees enhance our environment: house values in the leafy suburbs are significantly higher than in non-leafy suburbs; trees bring uniqueness and character to an area - what would Franklin Road be without it's magnificent plane trees, or Takapuna Beach without its pohutukawa? Trees remind us of the passing of time, the cyclical promise of nature a reminder that spring will always follow winter; trees absorb sound and pollution, and help to control stormwater runoff and erosion; trees play host to large numbers of birds and insects, aiding the biodiversity of an area; trees also have a social benefit, being both inspirational and refreshing. One suggestion was that residents and landowners should be rewarded for protecting trees and natural areas, as the whole community benefits from this action (or, rather, inaction). It was also agreed that it is important to involve landscape professionals and arborists at the start of any development, particularly where trees are involved, in order to minimise the damage to the environment.
Beach Haven Community Project
The Beach Haven Community Project, now named the Heart of Beach Haven Project, is moving forward rapidly with strong support from the local community. Three key areas were highlighted for development by the original February workshops:
- Entranceways or gateways to the shopping centre
- A central square or gathering place
- Enhancement of a key roundabout
The initial funding will only cover a small part of this vision, one gateway being selected for this purpose. The working group has developed a detailed concept plan for this aspect of the proposal, with significant input from Neil Coleman, one of our members who also happens to be one of Auckland's best architectural sketch and perspective artists!
 Neil Coleman's sketch of the proposed Beach Haven gateway, copyright Neil ColemanLandscape architects experienced in working with council projects have now been appointed to draw up the plans for consent applications and pricing, and the Community Board have given their approval.
We have also taken our proposals for the overall project to the Community Board, who have made the recommendation that the project should be implemented and funded. The whole process of consulting with the community, council and mana whenua has been a wonderful experience.
My garden transformation
In my last newsletter I was at the demolition stage of my garden transformation, asking myself "What on earth have I done?" However, I have now had new retaining walls built, almost completed staining them (I am waiting for a fine weekend to get this job finished!) and have planted my rain garden - see below.
Part of my rain garden, recently planted
A rain garden is designed to collect and store rainwater during heavy rain events, gradually releasing any excess into the stormwater system after the event. This is an ideal opportunity for me to check which plants handle rain garden conditions, where the plants may be periodically inundated with water, but at other times may get very dry. I have planted Cordyline australis (common cabbage tree - the only cabbage tree that doesn't mind wet feet), Arthropodium cirratum (rengarenga lilies), Blechnum novae-zelandiae (kiokio or Cape fern), Apodasmia similis (oioi or jointed rush), Canna 'Tropicana', Dietes grandiflora (wild iris) and Pratia angulata, a native groundcover. I'll let you know how these plants do in these conditions.
I have also planted in front of my boundary fence, planted Blechnum novae-zelandiae under my deck, and have ordered a kitset timber garden shed to store my garden tools. The shed will allow me to clear out my rumpus room and finally finish unpacking from my move nearly a year ago!
Read more about my garden transformation here.
Plant of the month
My favourite grass is Anemanthele lessoniana, or gossamer grass. This is a native grass which grows naturally on the east of both islands, preferring drier sites. It is quite happy in sun or shade, having bright green leaves in the shade with more orange tones in full sun. Rust-red flowers form a halo over the plant in spring, creating a spectacular site when blowing in the wind.
Anemanthele lessoniana interplanted with another grass on the shore of Lake Wakatipu
See other plants used by Laurenson Landscape Design here and earlier Plants of the Month here.
Banks Peninsula Track
I was lucky enough to travel to the South Island to walk the Banks Peninsula Track at the end of March. This is a 36km private walk, beginning and ending in Akaroa. This is luxury tramping, with accommodation provided along the way by the farm owners, including hot showers and the option to purchase food and drink. One property offered star-gazing huts as alternative accommodation! There is also a pack transport option on the two longer days of the walk.
The coastline on the Banks Peninsula track
The track offers some spectacular views of the Akaroa Harbour, and of the Banks Peninsula Coast, a kayaking option at one of the bays, penguin viewing in season, and some lovely native bush reserves. The bird life was amazing – kereru (wood pigeon) everywhere, and a grove full of bellbirds which were almost deafening – a delight to an Aucklander! We had fantastic weather, and thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip, the sometimes quirky accommodation, and the company we met on the way.
My favourite places
I try to get away for one weekend a year with my 3 children, now all young adults. However, it was over 2 years since our last trip (to Central Otago) when we headed off to a bach we rented in Awhitu Regional Park for a mid-winter weekend. This year we were joined by my daughter's fiance and my older son's girlfriend. We had a lovely relaxing weekend in this quiet part of the country, within site of Auckland International Airport and the Sky Tower!
The old Brook homestead jetty at Awhitu
My sons and I travelled out to the Manukau Heads on the Sunday to see the lighthouse, stopping on the way back for an amazing morning coffee at the Awhitu Social Club, where we were introduced to key lime pie, a specialty of the Florida Keys!
Manukau Heads lighthouse
See more of my favourite places here.
On the home front
My daughter has just announced her engagement, with a wedding planned for mid-October, so I have plenty on my hands over the next few weeks!
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested.
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Happy gardening!
Robyn
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