The dramatic seasonal colour palette of Queenstown is reflected in the garden planting at Remarkables Park. In spring, with bulbs and tree blossom that emerge to mark the coming warm weather; in the summer, through numerous overflowing colourful hanging baskets, trees of different colours and delightful gardens; in autumn, there is an emphasis on the dramatic yellow, gold, red and orange leaves of the region; in winter when pansies provide colour to the snow-covered landscape.
AUTUMN 2012 at Remarkables Park
The Otago summer was hot, dry and at times windy with the result that autumn seems to have arrived a little early this year! This is especially apparent when looking at the trees. They are already shutting themselves down and cutting off the food supply to the leaves causing them to change to the wonderful hues of autumn. Trees are one of the most amazing inhabitants of the plant world, knowing exactly when to close down in order to preserve themselves.
Once again, it is a busy time for Brenda, in charge of maintenance. Not only is there the annual task of leaf clearance, but also the major change over of the flowering annuals. After Easter all the hanging baskets will be taken down, cleaned and stored over winter. We experimented last year with a few winter baskets around the Plaza, but with the irrigation system turned off, it was unpractical and too frosty. Also being lifted and ‘going into store’ will be the red Geraniums from in front of ASB Bank. Last year we had about an 80% success rate of overwintering them.
We have a new supplier this year for our winter pansies, Evandale Nurseries from Invercargill. They supplied all the annuals for this year’s Ellerslie Flower Show and are supplying us with 2250 plants for the six annual beds and the numerous tubs and pots that will give winter cheer in colours of white/yellow/orange/deep purple, blue and burnt sienna. Some with ‘faces’, some with not!!!
Jacqui Stubbs - Landscape Design Consultant