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Spring/Autumn gardens


It is autumn here in New Zealand. I am a student with little
time to garden, but prone to ambitions which always exceed my
resources of energy and time. However, when I wander outside for
a break from study, there are things to see and check out.

>From my computer I can see my front border, which is mostly
evergreen NZ natives. Only the gleditsia is colouring, shot 
with gold amongst the limey-green leaves. Later, in the early 
spring, the kowhais will drop their leaves as the golden 
flowers appear.

I am a great fan of cordyline australis, our native
'cabbage trees' and derive great satisfaction from seeing
the amount of height they have put on. Clumps of arthropodium
cirratum have thickened up, and the seed capsules have
ripened. Under my bedroom window the chaos of salvia ulignosa
has flowered for months, such a satisfying blue.

Round the back, there is more disorder, of a polychromatic
nature. Dahlias, cosmos, calendulas, iceberg roses, a few
lavatera blooms, last of the buddleia, hebe. Maurandia
climbs through another rose. The grapes are now finished.
One fig tree, Brown Turkey, has given me decent figs for
the first time, another of a different sort has not yet
figged edibly but is shaping up into a wonderful standard
under which we can sit. One feijoa bush has lots of fruit,
not yet ripened, but the other is very scantly fruited and 
its last days may be in sight if it does not perform next
year. Both were seedlings inherited when I bought this 
place 3 years ago, and of course seedlings do have
this Russian roulette quality.

I have some gourds on the fence, Maori hue, small compact
fruit like ample bottoms. They will sit there until the
vines are completely withered, and have been fun to grow.
My ancient apple tree is clad with rosy fruit, codliny and
sour, but great cooking if I have the time - many go 
down the road to my neighbour. Others stay there as a winter
treat for birds. The pear tree, similarly huge and venerable,
has finished its fruiting, and an Albertine I recently 
planted is now venturing into the lower branches on its
journey to the light.

My snail plant, phaseolus, is not going to flower this year:
we are marginal here for getting flowers, and this year it
has cooled a little early. It has plenty of leaf, but is
destined to be knocked by frost. A neighbour's sasanqua camellia
hangs over my fence dripping pink petals on the grass and 
drive way. I have derived much pleasure from the pinks of
balsam - had not grown this annual before, but was given
seedlings by my neighbours. The parsley has stayed velvety
green all spring and summer. 

I have dismantled most of my pots, from where they were
lined up against my daisy hedge. This now needs cutting
for the second or third time this season. The fuchsias
are flagging at last, while the impatiens continue resolutely
on, also destined to be hit by the first frost. They
are mixed with the tovara painters palette which is so 
lively in the shady border.

There are things not achieved too, corners which are in
disgrace, but I do not get too excited about them. I have
the satisfaction of having done more this spring-summer
than the past, and there is plenty of evidence of progress.
For the next 8-10 months, my thesis has priority.

Betty-Ann Kelly
Hamilton
New Zealand 

-- 
Betty-Ann Kelly
betty@wave.co.nz
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