It is officially autumn when we arrived in New Zealand, but summer is still lingering on because most leaves are still green, although the winds can get nippy, even chilly and blustery in some places. NZ's climate is mostly temperate (except for for the Northland which is subtropical). Travelling through the North Island, I noticed that palms that one usually associates with hot climes are quite ubiquitous, together with the temperate ferns.
We walked the Wellington Botanic Garden (WBG) after going up to Kelburn by the cable car and taking a peek at the Cable Car Museum. The 25 hectare Garden was established in 1868 and is now managed by the Wellington City Council.
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| Bread tree by the Kelburn lookout |
I read that the endemic 'Pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) which once completely painted the coastline red in the summer with its tiny crimson petals has been ravaged by possums and although these can still be seen they are under conservation management by Project Crimson'. Considered NZ's Christmas tree, Pohutukawa trees that we came across in the WBG are quite old so I wonder if they still flower.
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| A very old Pohutukawa tree (CNB 2014) |
(pic Pohutukawa flowers)
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| Children's play area (CNB 2014) |
As we walked down the Myrtle Way, there are hydrangeas galore in a little valley. These are my favourite flowers and even if they are not at the height of their beauty (it is officially autumn after all), I could not help but take a lot of photos.
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| Hydrangeas (CNB 2014) |
The Succulent Garden and the Rock Garden are side by side and here we started seeing some 'weird' wired things among the plants. But we thought nothing of these because the succulents were really beautiful and some, surprisingly 'artificial' looking!
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| The Rock Garden and beyond (CNB 2014) |
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| Flowers we thought were artificial! (CNB 2014) |
Further down the William Wakefield Way passing by the Fernery, Threatened Species Garden and Fragrant Garden and down towards the Duck Pond, we realised that there was a night time program of 'Power Plant' installations which light up in the evening. These installations include hanging dresses, lampshades, toys, etc.
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| Dress installations in the Garden (CNB 2014) |
The Duck Pond seems a favourite with the children who come to feed the numerous ducks there. Some more flew in noisily from somewhere into the pond while we were there. By the William Bramley Drive toward the main gate there are beautiful colourful beds of begonia and marigold amid the Joy Fountain. So how can one not pose here?
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| By the colourful Begonia beds (BB 2014) |
We exited the main gate (Founders' entrance) and walked towards the Lady Norwood Rose Garden. After stopping long enough to smell the roses, we bypassed the Begonia House and walked on through the Bolton Street Memorial Park (Wellington cemetery 1840-1892). We then crossed over the Wellington Motorway, saw a bit of the Parliament buildings including the 'Beehive' before traversing Lambton Quay towards our accommodation in Cuba Street. Quite an exhilarating walk through gardens, cemetery, and city streets.
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