Bedgebury Pinetum 1st day

Friday, 2009 May 29 by Dick Bos

Ok, we are in Bedgebury. The carpark is full and we have to go to the overflow carpark. There are already almost one hunderd cars parked. So lots of people around. Not only people who are interested in conifers, but most of them are just for a day out. Somewhere in the park there is an archery, a cyclecircuit and a special place for children to play. Everywhere you can see people on the grass with the picknickbaskets. We stroll around in the entrance part of the pinetum. Lots of new trees are planted and lots of old trees are standing there for years. An impressive amount of Redwoods and Giant sequoias are close to the walkingpath, young ones and old ones.</pYoung Sequoiadendron giganteum>

Un undamaged old Sequoiadendron giganteum

Un undamaged old Sequoiadendron giganteum

Dick is not walking very fast, but here he doesn’t need to. There are so many trees to look at. Try to give it a name and afterwards try to find the label. Most of the trees are properly labelled, and beside the label there is a number on it. We wrote down a few numbers to check the names later in the office (we hoped that it was possible).

Overview

Overview

After several hours we went to the office to become member of the friends of the pinetum. We got a membershipcard and a parkingpermit. Now we have free entrance to several other arboreta and gardens that we are going to visit.

For today we have had seen enough, we’ll sure be back tomorrow.

London → Bedgebury → Ruckinge

Friday, 2009 May 29 by Dick Bos

Friday morning. Excellent breakfast. With the tram to Avis, at Ampere Way in Croydon. First we got our Oyster Card (for travelling with tram and bus and train and tube).
Our little Nissan Note OE 57 XLP was ready for use (next time: ask for an automatic one).
(odometer at start: 18059 (miles))
Those first miles in a new car, in an unknown environment, on the left side of the road….. those first miles are always an exciting story. But everything went alright.
We picked up our luggage at the hotel and left at 10:15 am in south eastern direction, via the A232 and A21 to Bedgebury Pinetum at Goudhurst, Kent.
The roads are all very busy. And they are narrow. And those Englishmen (and -women) drive fast! But we survived. Wilma did it again.

We arrived at Bedgebury Pinetum (odo 18102) at 12:15pm.
We were really astonished!
Of course we immediately became “Friends”. We met Malcolm Dove, administrator of the friends, and full time volunteer, for the first time. He prepared our membership cards and our parking card, and gave us a few old copies of the “Journal”.
We went to Tenterden, and did some shopping (more maps, and more food). Then we headed for Ruckinge. To find our way to our cottage, we went to the pub. Even before we could enter, someone showed us the way to Capel Road.
Paul Wise showed us our “studio” and we met William the Labrador (odo 18130).

London

Thursday, 2009 May 28 by Dick Bos

Today we travelled from Amersfoort (departure 10:40 am) by train to London St. Pancras (arrival 3:56 pm by Eurostar (9141) from Bruxelles Midi.
It was a good trip. As soon as we departed Bruxelles we were on the new hi speed track. We made one stop at Lille Europe, through the Chunnel and in England also all the way on new track. I think the train goes to a tunnel that brings you straight to St. Pancras (which is north of the centre).

At St. Pancras we could take a direct train to East Croydon (south of London). The only trouble was that we had to wait quite long. But for us (with our luggage), this was better than taking the underground to Victoria Station and then the train to East Croydon. At East Croydon not many passengers boarded, so we could find a place to sit, but (slowly) moving to London Bridge (because of the heavy traffic and the works) more and more passengers boarded. From London Bridge to East Croydon takes a quarter of an hour.

After getting some assistence in the tourist information centre at East Croydon (next to the station), we quickly found our way to the Jurys Inn Croydon at Wellesley Road. A big hotel, with a big room.

We did some shopping (new maps and some food stuff) and we had an excellent meal at a chinese buffet restaurant (BP5,50 pp, as much as you want / can).

New post in Hackfalls-blog

Monday, 2009 April 20 by Dick Bos

Easter Game Hunt at Tiniroto

Sunday, 2009 April 12 by Dick Bos

The Easter Game Hunt at Tiniroto is a big event!
People from all over the district come to see who shot the biggest (or smallest) deer, pig, possum, hare or rabbit. There are prizes for big eels as well. And people come to have a drink, eat the hangi, and enjoy live music from….. Too Much Cuz!

Easter Game Hunt at Tiniroto

Lots of traffic for Easter Game Hunt Tiniroto

People from all over the place gathered around the Tiniroto Tavern for the Easter Game Hunt.

Everyone walks around, just before the prizes are given.
Easter Game Hunt Tiniroto

There are a lot of possums, hares, rabbits and eels.

possums, hares and rabbits at Easter Game Hunt Tiniroto

lots of possums, hares and rabbits at Tiniroto Easter Game Hunt

There are a good number of pigs as well.

pigs shooten at Easter Game Hunt Tiniroto

And there are stags, of course!

The stags at Easter Game Hunt Tiniroto

The prizes were presented by the Mountain Warrior of Tiniroto: Shane Cameron.

Shane Cameron presents prizes at Easter Game Hunt Tiniroto

All the kids get a prize

lots of prizes at the Easter Game Hunt Tiniroto

More pictures tomorrow!

Too Much Cuz

Sunday, 2009 April 12 by Dick Bos

The big attraction of the Easter Game Hunt was the performance of “Too Much Cuz”, of course!

Too Much Cuz - music from Wairoa, New Zealand

With John (who lives at Hackfalls Station) playing the bass.
One of his brothers, Dale, playing the drums, another brother, Vince, playing the lead guitar, and three of his sisters, Susan, Missy and Veronica, in the vocal section.

Susan, Missy and Veronica, vocals

Susan, Missy and Veronica, vocals

Vince, lead guitar

Vince, lead guitar

John, bass guitar

John, bass guitar

Dale on drums

Dale on drums

I’ve put some short video-fragments of their performance at YouTube.
the fragments are simply named A, B, C, D, E and F.

More video-fragments and more photos to come.

New visit of EWH

Thursday, 2009 April 9 by Dick Bos

8 and 9 April I visited EWH again.
Looked through a good part of photo-archives.
Made pictures of some trees.

Ellerslie – 2nd day

Thursday, 2009 March 12 by Dick Bos

Proudly presenting:
The Gold Award winning Display of Eastwoodhill Arboretum at Ellerslie Flowershow 2009!

Before opening time: watering the garden

Prue watering

Prue watering

Eastwoodhill Display at Ellerslie Flowershow 2009

Libby makes a picture while Prue is watering

Overview

Overview

Absolutely eye-catching! The giant acorns:

How Giant Acorns grow from Little Oaks

How Giant Acorns grow from Little Oaks

One of the big tricks of the design: the mirror at the left wall

The mirror

The mirror

Our neighbours: (Friends of) Christchurch Botanical Gardens with carnivorous plants (if I say it properly)

Display of Christchurch Botanical Gardens at Ellerslie Flowershow

A detail from the (also Gold Award winning) display.

Christchurch Botanical Gardens Display at Ellerslie Flowershow 2009

Prue starts the slideshow

Prue starts the slideshow

Outside the visitors are waiting……

Queues, long, long, long queues

Queues, long, long, long queues

Long queue in front of our Galore Marquee as well. All day: from 10 till 6!
Ellerslie Flowershow 2009

While in the tent, Lee is handing out the message

Eastwoodhill Arboretum Display at Ellerslie Flowershow 2009

- – - – - – - – - -

Pictures of the first day on our Dutch blog

My Mazda Capella Wagon

Friday, 2008 November 14 by Dick Bos

Just to inform anyone who’s interested, I will write today about the first time I bought a car in my life.
I’ve been anti-auto all my life. But in nz everything is upside down. So what was thought to be impossible has happened. I bought a car. I became a member of the group of people that pollutes the world with their petrol gases. Automotive society made another victim.

I had been to a shop called “Bargain Cars” on Gladstone Rd here in Gisborne the last time I was here (by that time I checked if they wanted to buy our old van). Yesterday I went to that shop again. Julian accompanied me. Julian is Margriet’s son. He taught me to drive a year ago. He’s quite an excellent driving teacher, I think. And he knows more of cars than I do (but that doesn’t really say much). I didn’t want to do any test driving or so myself. I’m still a bit too uncertain as a driver, I think. Julian was willing to help me.
Darryl showed us some cars and we came to a consensus rather quick. I had done some previous enquiries in “the Trader” (weekly free magazine with all different kind of things for sale – mostly private ads). Margriet made a couple of phone-calls for that. I did some checks on the Internet as well.

Nr. 1 in the list was:
Mazda Capella Stationwagon 1995
2ltr. engine. 220.000 km on the odometer.
In good condition, as far as we could inspect. On the outside, on the inside, and the engine-part looked good as well.

Today I took another look with Margriet. We decided to make a test drive. Margriet was immediately charmed by the car as well. It drove nice and easy.
So I decided to buy. Tried to negotiate a rebate, but that is, of course, a bit uneasy when you can’t wait for a few days. But I got a new WOF (Warrant of Fitness) up till May. And a full tank of petrol.
Well, NZ$3990 = (only?) € 1766 (the NZ$ is close to our old Dutch guilder).
I really haven’t the slightest idea of prices in Nl. Do they sell cars like this at home? And how much do they cost?
One of the vital characteristics of a perfect market is that the buyers and sellers are all completely informed. Well. I wasn’t. But that doesn’t matter. I’m the proud owner of my first car and of course I immediately start to pamper it.

The new Mazda Capella Stationwagon in front of Margriet's house

The new Mazda Capella Stationwagon in front of Margriet's house

Well. That was only one part of the story. Now I had to drive that thing. Julian took me out of town to a very quiet road along the beach, where I had my first driving lessons a year ago. I stepped behind the steering wheel. We drove up and down the beach road. We took the road to Tiniroto for a few kms. Drove back into town and all through it. All went well. I’m pretty sure that I can drive to the Pak&Save tomorrow, and then drive out of town. Up to Tiniroto.

Thank you Margriet, thank you Julian, for helping me with this job.

Auckland Botanic Gardens

Tuesday, 2008 November 11 by Dick Bos

I visited the Auckland Botanic Gardens (ABG) last Sunday and Monday.
Sunday walked through some of the garden. There were a lot of people, but the weather was fine. Unfortunately the battery of my Olympus E-410 was low, so I only took a few photo’s. I should buy a spare battery!
Monday I spent most of my time in the Library. This was a cloudy day. But I could make some pictures.

(for a larger view on a picture, click on it)

The entrance to the Gardens is free. Some 700.000 or 800.000 people visit the Gardens each year. There is a large staff.
On entering the Gardens one sees the Visitor Centre Huakaiwaka, near the Parking. It’s a beautiful modern building, that houses the information desk, a classy cafe, computer desks (for visitors to consult the databases etc.), room for kids, and a room for exhibitions. This week had an exhibition of artists with sculptures in stone, glass, wood, metal etc.
The visitor centre also holds some offices.

The Visitor Centre Huakaiwaka – front entrance

The Visitor Centre Huakaiwaka – front entrance

From the terrace at the rear side one has a good view over the Gardens.

Visitor Centre – rear side with terrace

Visitor Centre – rear side with terrace

The Library is housed in a separate building.

The Library Building with Quercus palustris (?) beside it

The Library Building with Quercus palustris (?) beside it

The Library – interior

The Library – interior

I spent here most of my Monday. Really a good library. One of the things that makes it special is the database that has records of the books (2.500) and some 7.500 entries on articles in different journals. Found a lot of interesting new little things concerning Eastwoodhill, Douglas Cook, etc.
Perhaps the most interesting was that I found Vol. 2 (and 3) of “The Gardener’s Journal” (In Vol. 1 was the article on Uncle Bob and Lady Anne). The editorial of Vol. 2 quoted extendedly of my letter to the editor (or was it to the writer?).

I talked to Roger Price, Horticultural Education Officer, who is in charge of the Library. Yvonne Etherington showed me the new database, that is currently installed, for the plants as well as for the library, BG-Base. The Library is staffed by volunteers. Today this was Graham.
Everyone was very friendly and helpful (as it uses to be the case most of the time in NZ).

Of course I made some walks in the Gardens as well.
Sunday I took a look at the (small) Conifer Collection, close to the Visitor Centre.
Only a few pictures, as I said. For instance of Bishop Pine Pinus muricata (on the right; with some works of art beside it)

Bishop Pine (Pinus muricata) (on the right)

Bishop Pine (Pinus muricata) (on the right)

With beautiful “flowers”

Bishop Pine (Pinus muricata)

Bishop Pine (Pinus muricata)

On both days I visited the NZ Threatened Native Plants Garden.
Opened 2001 by Helen Clark, when she was still Prime Minister.
On a miniature scale a lots of (threatened) habitats from the Auckland and Northland regions are
build here, like wetlands, off shore islands, lowland forests, lava fields and dunes.

NZ Threatened Native Plants Garden – entrance

NZ Threatened Native Plants Garden – entrance

in this garden for instance:
* Shore spurge Euphorbia glauca, presumed extinct on Auckland region’s mainland.
In the garden plants of this species are grown from seeds and cuttings taken from the last remaining plant on Motukorea – Browns Island.

shore spurge <em>Euphorbia glauca</em>

shore spurge Euphorbia glauca

shore spurge <em>Euphorbia glauca</em>

shore spurge Euphorbia glauca

* Three Kings trumpet vine Tecomanthe speciosa.
Only one plant left in the wild. On one of the Three Kings islands.
discovered in 1945 it escaped extinction by growing on a cliff so steep that even wild goats couldn’t reach it. Cuttings were taken and today plants related to this last vine are for sale in nurseries.
Blooms early in winter with creamy-lime trumpet shaped flowers. Pity it was nog flowering.

At Sunday I spent most of the time on the Native Forest Trail, a marked walk that leads through a broadleaf/podocarp forest remnant. a total of about 30 hectares. 10 hectares are part of the Botanic Gardens and managed by Auckland Regional Council. 20 hectares are part of Totara Park, managed by the Manukau City Council.
The area was cut in earlier times to harvest timber. The forest is now regenerating.
There are a number of tracks. One of the tracks is described in a leaflet. With information on plants and trees. The flora of the combined area consists of 158 species in total.
No photos.

At Monday, in the NZ Plants Garden I found this beautiful:
Kaikoura Rock Daisy Pachystegia insignis

Kaikoura Rock Daisy <em>Pachystegia insignis</em>

Kaikoura Rock Daisy Pachystegia insignis

Kaikoura Rock Daisy <em>Pachystegia insignis</em>

Kaikoura Rock Daisy Pachystegia insignis

The gardens hold beautiful trees. One example:
Camphor Tree Cinnamomum camphora

Camphor Tree <em>Cinnamomum camphora</em>

Camphor Tree Cinnamomum camphora

One of the sections of the Shrub Trial Garden is packed with cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla

bed with cultivars of <em>Hydrangea macrophylla</em>

bed with cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla

in the background a bed of Azalea with the beautiful yellow Rhododendron ‘Ilam Melford Yellow’

<em>Rhododendron</em> 'Ilam Melford Yellow'

Rhododendron 'Ilam Melford Yellow'

<em>Rhododendron</em> 'Ilam Melford Yellow'

Rhododendron 'Ilam Melford Yellow'

and behind that the red flowering bottlebrush Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’.

Bottlebrush <em>Callistemon citrinus</em> 'Splendens'

Bottlebrush Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens'

The tuis like them, and many other birds as well.

Another beautifully flowering rhodo (or azalea, I still don’t know) was Rhododendron ‘Melford Flame’

<em>Rhododendron</em> 'Melford Flame'

Rhododendron 'Melford Flame'

Look at those flowers!

<em>Rhododendron</em> 'Melford Flame'

Rhododendron 'Melford Flame'

A Viburnum ‘Rosace’ also flowered abundantly

<em>Viburnum</em> 'Rosace'

Viburnum 'Rosace'

<em>Viburnum</em> 'Rosace'

Viburnum 'Rosace'

Finally I made some pictures in the Protea beds. The sugarbush (“Suikerbossie” in Afrikaans?) originates from (South-)Africa. One of the largest flowering specimen was a cultivar of the King Protea (the national flower of South-Africa) Protea cynaroides ‘Arctic Ice’. The plant itself is a little bit ugly

King Protea <em>Protea cynaroides</em> 'Arctic Ice'

King Protea Protea cynaroides 'Arctic Ice'

but the flowers are very large

King Protea <em>Protea cynaroides</em> 'Arctic Ice'

King Protea Protea cynaroides 'Arctic Ice'