Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Tecophilaea King on November 26, 2009, 09:13:12 AM
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Te Puna Quarry Park in Tauranga is being developed by a dedicated band of volunteers from a disused quarry into a world class park. This old scar on the hillside has already become a place of special beauty.
Only 5 minutes away by car, I often go there for a walk and admire and photograph many plant in flower at different times of the season.
From the upper levels there is a spectacular panoramic view out over the Bay of Plenty. There are ponds, tree ferns, cymbidium orchids by the thousand, native tree plantings and exotics such as vireya rhododendrons - a wild garden of infinite variety. Special garden areas include irises, cacti and succulents, an Australian area, a native Arboretum, a Bonsai corner, a South African area and a Palm Grove. We now have a butterfly garden where monarchs and admirals happlily fly free.
This picture was taken from the top overlooking the park and the Bay of Plenty province towards Mount Maunganui on the right.
In the next few postings I will show you some of the beautiful plants that grow there.
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In the park we start of with ferns, they are often the first plant form that comes to mind when New Zealand natives are mentioned; the emerging koru and the silver ferns have become symbolic motifs and tree ferns charicterise the bush.
Many ferns (over 300 species) grow throughout New Zealand and vary from large trees, 15 meters or more, to tiny filmy ferns only 10 mm high.
A number of ferns has proved to be good garden plants, but consider the space you have in your garden before you choose a tree fern, for some, such as the Cyathea medullaris (mamaku), develop into large plants.
The next few pictures are of the Cyathea medullaris or black tree fern in the park
The last picture also shows a Cordyline australis (Cabbage tree) another NZ native.
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Cyathea dealbata, or the silver tree fern or silver fern (kaponga or ponga in the Māori language), is a species of medium-sized tree fern, endemic to New Zealand.
This fern is known to grow to heights of 10 m or more. The crown is dense, and the fronds tend to be about 4 m long and have a distinctive silver-white colouration on the undersides.
The Silver Ferns are also the national netball team of New Zealand. The team take their name from the Silver Tree Fern (Cyathea dealbata), which is an iconic emblem for many New Zealand sports teams.
The second pictures show the new fronds emerging and the last picture, when you turn the underside of the fronds, explains why this plant is called the Silver Fern
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Bill, this seems worthy of a place in the Travel and Places to visit section..... 8) ....so I've given you a quick move there!!
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Maggi
I am glad you did. New Zealand is definitely on my wish list and ahve added this wonderful park to areas to visit. And not a bulb in sight!!
Many thanks Bill for posting
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I'll really be in big trouble here as I have a different memory of this place. Beforehand I'd better say that Bill's pics show something infinitely better than when I visited it, with the NZ Iris Soc convention, in 2000. At that time various parts of the area had been allotted to a selection of Tauranga's hort groups and under the pine trees they had planted annuals, assorted dwarf phloxes, dianthus, and heaps of other totally inappropriate plants, even roses, which looked, frankly, ghastly. At the time I did take some pics of the tree ferns and these, in Bill's pics, seem larger and stronger than I remember them so 9 years of growth have helped. I can only hope the plantings are better now, too. I remember thinking that I would never want to go near the place again. ???
Oddly, just last night as I lay trying to sleep, I was thinking of that very place, and hadn't done so, for several years. Some kind of telepathy working maybe? It could even have been at the same time Bill was posting.
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Now that's odd because the link takes me to the wrong place. Last night on TV there was an item about an English couple living in NZ who had literally photographed the whole country from the air. They used a little plane that looked like a dragonfly, sort of heavy in the chest and slim at the tail. I think it was a Polish plane. The wife was the pilot and the husband the photographer. Their website was given as eyeball.co.nz and everything they had done was available to see, utterly stunning pics of anywhere you wanted. I'll try to access it and report back in due course.
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I'll really be in big trouble here as I have a different memory of this place. Beforehand I'd better say that Bill's pics show something infinitely better than when I visited it, with the NZ Iris Soc convention, in 2000. At that time various parts of the area had been allotted to a selection of Tauranga's hort groups and under the pine trees they had planted annuals, assorted dwarf phloxes, dianthus, and heaps of other totally inappropriate plants, even roses, which looked, frankly, ghastly. At the time I did take some pics of the tree ferns and these, in Bill's pics, seem larger and stronger than I remember them so 9 years of growth have helped. I can only hope the plantings are better now, too. I remember thinking that I would never want to go near the place again. ???
Lesley, you certainly know how to dampen and discourage all the efforts, enthusiasm and interest of those hardworking, dedicated volenteers. Shame on you :o :(
Dont forget it takes time and a lot of hard work to developed and shape a disused quarry into a world class park, a great deal has been archieved since those early days.
And what's wrong with a planting of beautiful Heritage roses, and other specialised appropriate plant groups, what is so ghastly about that in your personal opinion? I think you should have tempered your early criticism somewhat to more relevant diplomatic comments.
Since then the Te Puna Quarry Park Society has won the Supreme Award at the TrustPower and Western Bay of Plenty Community Awards in 2002 and 2008, and subsequently went on to take out the Supreme National title in 2003 for a well balanced botanical park. Being acknowledged nationally was a great achievement and reward for their hard working volunteers.
We just hope that when you visit this award winning park next time, you will have a better and more positive opinion/understanding of this popular park.
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In the Te Puna Quarry Park you also find a section of colourful and charming Fuchsia plantings, putting up a beautiful display at the moment.
More pictures later.
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A fantastic display Bill.
Is there a particular F. magellanica that the Scots out there consider to be the toughest? A few survive - roots only as a rule - in the mildest areas of Nova Scotia.
johnw
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Here are a few more closups of the Fuchsia's in the Quarry Park, don't ask me for names, there're so many colourful, beautiful varieties in cultivation nowadays.
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Maggi, should I also post some of these beautiful pictures in the "November 2009 in the Southern Hemisphere" for other members to look at?
There're many more pictures to come in this beautiful Park.
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No need, Bill.... it's just as easy to post just a link there to here and since that already exists, the readers should find it , though I can always put another ! :)
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I bow to your more recent knowledge of the place Bill. The fuchsias are certainly beautiful.
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Although we have had some horrible weather lately, including frosts and icy winds, I am surprised to see that quite a number of fuchsias are still putting on a brave display in several local gardens. I find it fun to see them blooming here and on the other side of the world at the same time. 8)
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Maybe not as colourful as the Fuchsia's, I couldn't help myself to take a picture of the old fashion Digitalis foxglove in the park.
Digitalis (foxglove)
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The Rododendrons and Azelea's area of the park unfortunatly have just finished flowering, the birds don't seem to mind.
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Here are a couple of pictures of the recent Bromeliads plantings by the Bromeliad Society volunteers.
Bromeliad species.
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These South African spectacular Protea's in the park prefer a acid, sandy, peaty soil that has good drainage, and like full sun.
Protea flowers vary in colour and form; most are enormous cup-shaped bracts around flower heads that are woolly (almost creature like) in apearance and usually appear in winter and spring.
Protea cynaroides, the King Protea.
Protea nerifolia
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Cymbidiums are the most popular orchids in the home garden and New Zealand leads the way in hybrids and come in many colours.
Cymbidiums are probably the the easiest orchid to grow and are happy out of doors throughout the year in mild areas and, when frost appears, containers can be shifted inside for the winter.
In the Quarry Park they are permanent and get protection from overhead trees and large ferns.
Orchid cymbidiums
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The staghorn fern Platcerium holtummii is another interesting epiphytic perennials or "air" plants. Staghorns are native to jungles in Africa, Madagascar, Australia, Tropical Asia and one species (Andinum) is from South America, Peru and Bolivia
Staghorn ferns can be found high in tall trees attached to, but not growing "in" the bark. What that means is stags don't need or use soil as do land plants
The last picture is another beautiful white Dendrobium Orchid, just as happy as the Cymbidiums in the park.
Platcerium holtummii
Dendrobium Orchid
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Close to the pond in a wet spot, I found this clump of Primula species and the Gunnera manicata I think.
I don't know the name of the Primula, perhaps someone could ID it for me.
Thanks, Bill
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Primula helodoxa.
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Primula helodoxa.
Thanks Lesley, as usual, the first to reply and ID correctly. We'll always need you warts and all ;D ;D ;D
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Also near the pond in the park a couple of Iris species: Iris laevigata and Iris pseudacorus I think. I stand to be corrected.
Iris laevigata.
Iris pseudacorus.
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I'm no expert Bill but don't think your second one is Iris pseudacorous which should be yellow. Maybe it's another I. laevigata?
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I'm no expert Bill but don't think your second one is Iris pseudacorous which should be yellow. Maybe it's another I. laevigata?
David, I was not sure either, you could be right. Thanks
We'll wait for good old Lesley to tell us we're both wrong ;D ;D ;D
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Very wise Bill, very wise indeed ;D
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Open season in Lesley-bashing,it seems....
Some of us appreciate you, Lesley 8) :)
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We all appreciate Lesly Ian, if we didn't she'd soon tell us :P
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Oh God, I thought I had managed to keep my warts a deep secret. You've outed me Bill. ???
The pink iris is I. ensata 'Rose Queen.' It is a selection from the wild and named (appropriately) for its delicate colour. A few years ago Parva Plants (also in Tauranga at that time) produced a pure white sport from it which was sold as 'Snow Queen,' one of the lovliest irises I ever saw. I've lost mine to drought unfortunately. I don't know if 'Snow Queen' originated with PP or whether they obtained it elsewhere but I hope it reappears some time.
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I think the first pic is also I ensata, rather than laevigata, but one of the modern, "developed" forms.
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Sorry, I can't seem to keep off the subject. Re I. pseudocorus, and yes Bill, it's yellow, I doubt if the powers who woud like to be would look favourably on its being planted in this quarry park. It is now a prohibited plant (not merely not permitted) both to import plants and seeds and to have on one's property, the reason being that it is a strong grower in water and has blocked many natural and man-made waterways on farms and elsewhere. Not only is IT prohibited but any hybrid with pseudocorus as one parent. Means we can't get the gorgeous "eye shadow" irises which the Japanese have developed and which are truly exquisite.
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Another spectacular plant in the park is the Doryanthes palmeri - the Giant Spear Lily! Growing to 12 feet tall, with massive, 11-foot flower stalks, this is one of the largest Lily relatives around. A native of eastern Australia. The big blooms are 5" long and are a brilliant red, attracting all sorts of birds. This is a slow-growing but very long-lived species. A colony can live 100 years or more.
In the right environment, it's an easy-to-grow plant - and an amazing conversation piece!
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I was speechless. What a beautiful orchids and oter plants!!! Everywhere green. :o
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The Doryanthes in Bill's pics say a lot about the Tauranga climate, compared, say, with Dunedin's. Tauranga has a relatively warm, often humid climate and plenty rain whereas ours is cold in winter and frosty, very dry in summer, often in spring and autumn as well. I grew Doryanthes palmeri from seed once and had it grow to maybe 30cms or so but not ever was it going to flower for me and eventually frost killed it. There is - or was -a magnificent stand in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens back in 2003, and it is used in motorway plantings going into Sydney from the west.
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.... some other forum links to these super plants:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3180.msg85664;topicseen#msg85664
for the Australian Spear Lily Doryanthes palmeri and Doryanthes excelsa in Madeira 8)
and here for a species in Australia itself.......Doryanthes excelsa
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2357.msg61049#msg61049
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The Doryanthes in Bill's pics say a lot about the Tauranga climate, compared, say, with Dunedin's. Tauranga has a relatively warm, often humid climate and plenty rain whereas ours is cold in winter and frosty, very dry in summer, often in spring and autumn as well. I grew Doryanthes palmeri from seed once and had it grow to maybe 30cms or so but not ever was it going to flower for me and eventually frost killed it. There is - or was -a magnificent stand in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens back in 2003, and it is used in motorway plantings going into Sydney from the west.
Lesley, what nice things you say about Tauranga, you might have just scored yourself some extra brownie points, and will now send you the Tropaeolum seed I promised next Monday ;D ;D ;D
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.... some other forum links to these super plants:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3180.msg85664;topicseen#msg85664
for the Australian Spear Lily Doryanthes palmeri and Doryanthes excelsa in Madeira 8)
and here for a species in Australia itself.......Doryanthes excelsa
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2357.msg61049#msg61049
Thanks Maggi for redirecting us to these super plants forum links.
I will keep an eye on this spectacular plant and if this Doryanthes palmeri hopefully will set seed, I will share it with the forum members.
Bill
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Another fascinating climber flowering in the Quarry Park at the moment is the tender climber from Mexico, Rhodochiton atrosanguineus. Plants grow rapidly and, from mid-summer until early autumn, are studded with long dangling flowers resembling drop earrings. Each one is composed of a long, slender, purple-black tube growing out of a chalice-shaped mauve calyx. The plants are useful for covering trellis or arches, or adding interest to the bare base of other climbers. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). New plants are easily raised from seed.
Rhodochiton atrosanguineus.
The second picture is another interesting plant, unfortunately I don't know the botanical name for. ID please? Thanks, Bill
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Beaucarnea recurvata, or Ponytail Palm, is native to Mexico. Beacarneas are closely related to Yuccas and thrive under the same conditions. Plants have dark green, grass-like leaves that are 2.5 cm wide by 2 m long.
They have swollen bases for water storage and can store water up to 1 year.
Plants in nature will reach about 10 m in height with a base about 4 m across.
In containers, they will only reach about 2.5 m in height.
They make an excellent houseplant while small if they are not over-watered.
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lots of cool stuff! i esp like the bromeliads and c+s garden..
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Not sure Bill but maybe your plant for ID is an Indigofera. Whatever, it's very nice.
The Rhodochiton is also a super thing, not fully hardy unfortunately and I've lost it a couple of times. It's not immediately obvious from your photo but chums of mine who grow it well, in a milder climate, know it as (forgive me Maggi,) penis plant from the deep red centre thing which opens at the tip as it matures. :o Maybe you could do a closeup of the flower Bill. :D
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I'm happy to say good things about Tauranga Bill. My sister lives there. :D
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I show your photos in my family and they ran to the shop to looks for the orchids. My house is filled of Phalenopsis, Catleya and Cymbidium...