The Christchurch Botanic Gardens, located in the
central city
In urban planning, a core city, principal city metropolitan core, or central city, is the largest or most important city or cities of a metropolitan area. A core city is surrounded by smaller satellite cities, towns, and suburbs. A central city ...
of
Christchurch
Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...
, New Zealand, were founded in 1863 when an
English oak
''Quercus robur'', commonly known as common oak, pedunculate oak, European oak or English oak, is a species of flowering plant in the beech and oak family, Fagaceae. It is a large tree, native plant, native to most of Europe west of the Caucasus ...
was planted to commemorate the solemnisation of the marriage of
Prince Albert and
Princess Alexandra of
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
.
The gardens sprawl over an area of 21 hectares and lie adjacent to the loop of the
Avon River next to
Hagley Park. The Christchurch Botanic Gardens have a variety of collections of exotic and local
plants of New Zealand, several conservatories, a nursery, playground and
Climatological Station.
History
![Albert Edward Oak, Botanic Gardens 008](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Albert_Edward_Oak%2C_Botanic_Gardens_008.JPG)
*1863 English oak planted for Prince Albert and Princess Alexandra of Denmark's marriage.
*1882 International Industrial Exhibition held in South Hagley Park. Acclimatisation Gardens formally opened to the public.
*1901 Magnetic Observatory complex constructed in the domain. It is used by explorers Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton to calibrate their compasses before heading to Antarctica.
*1910 First domain fête held, attracting a crowd of between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors. First stage of James Young's rose garden laid out.
*1911 Peacock Fountain originally erected near where the McDougall Art Gallery now stands.
*1914 Townend House conservatory opened.
*1923 Winter Garden conservatory (later Cuningham House) opened.
*1926 Bandsmen's Memorial Rotunda officially opened
![Band Rotunda (Botanical Garden)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Band_Rotunda_%28Botanical_Garden%29.jpg)
*1932 Robert McDougall Art Gallery opened
*1938 Cockayne Memorial Garden opened.
*1955 Fern House opened.
*1960 Garrick House conservatory opened.
*1967 Foweraker House conservatory opened.
*1990 Kate Sheppard Memorial Walk created.
*1996 Peacock Fountain restored after going into storage in 1949.
*2006 Peace Bell unveiled in the gardens, on 3 October.
*2009 Dr. John Clemens appointed curator.
*2014 Christchurch Botanic Gardens won the 2014 Supreme Design Excellence Award at the
Ellerslie International Flower Show with a horticultural exhibit called Burn after Reeding.
Mission
The mission of Christchurch Botanic Gardens is threefold:
*lead in the areas of horticulture, display, interpretation, education, research, networking, cultural and heritage relevance and community appreciation.
*emphasis is placed on New Zealand indigenous (native) plant diversity and global plant diversity.
*to protect heritage and cultural values.
Visitor Centre
The Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, which opened in April 2014, has a café, gift shop and an interactive permanent exhibition featuring the history of plants and gardening in
Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour.
...
.
Attached to the visitor centre is the Ilex nursery, where 10,000 plant species are propagated in order to supply the conservatories and also preserve species.
Armstrong lawn
John Armstrong, one of the early curators of the gardens, is commemorated at the Armstrong Lawn, where formal bedding displays of petunia, begonia and
salvia
''Salvia'' () is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species of shrubs, herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, perennials, and annual plant, annuals. Within the Lamiaceae, ''Salvia'' is part of the ...
bloom through spring and summer with tulips,
polyanthus and Iceland poppies bringing post-winter colour. The
Peacock Fountain was imported from England and first installed in the garden. A statue of
William Sefton Moorhouse
William Sefton Moorhouse ( 1825 – 15 September 1881) was a British-born New Zealand politician. He was the second Superintendent of Canterbury Province.
Early life
Moorhouse was born in Yorkshire, England, and baptised on 18 December 1825; th ...
commemorates the second of the four superintendents of the
Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour.
...
provincial government. At the far end of the lawn is the
Curator's House, built in 1920, which is now used for fine dining and education. In its garden,
nasturtiums and herbs grow alongside heirloom and gourmet vegetables.
Collections
New Zealand Gardens
The New Zealand Garden was established at its present location between 1910 and 1927 by Botanic Gardens Curator James Young. Over several decades these gardens evolved into a fine collection of New Zealand species, interwoven and overlaid with new extensions. The gardens provide a wonderful opportunity for getting lost under a canopy of mature trees such as
kahikatea
''Dacrycarpus dacrydioides'', commonly known as kahikatea (from Māori) and white pine, is a coniferous tree endemic to New Zealand. A podocarp, it is New Zealand's tallest tree, gaining heights of 60 m and a life span of 600 years. It was firs ...
and
beech
Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...
.
*New Zealand Icon Garden
A short looped trail featuring some of New Zealand's most iconic and loved native plants. The small grove allows visitors to catch a glimpse of wild New Zealand and see mature trees and plants including the legendary silver fern,
harakeke
''Phormium tenax'' (called flax in New Zealand English; in Māori; New Zealand flax outside New Zealand; and New Zealand hemp in historical nautical contexts) is an evergreen perennial plant native to New Zealand and Norfolk Island that is an i ...
,
Rimu
''Dacrydium cupressinum'', commonly known as rimu, is a large evergreen coniferous tree endemic to the forests of New Zealand. It is a member of the southern conifer group, the podocarps.
The Māori name ''rimu'' comes from the Polynesian ...
,
Kotukutuku.
Herbaceous Border
Laid in 1926, the gardens’ border is in two parts, divided by an ornamental sundial presented by Canterbury Superintendent
William Rolleston
William Rolleston (19 September 1831 – 8 February 1903) was a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist and Canterbury provincial superintendent.
Early life
Rolleston was born on 19 September 1831 at Maltby, Yorkshire as th ...
in 1873. The sandy soils at the eastern end are perfect for plants from hot dry climates and is shaded from wind by the
Robert McDougall Art Gallery
The Robert McDougall Art Gallery is a heritage building in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was designed by Edward Armstrong and it opened in 1932. It is a Category I heritage building listed with Heritage New Zealand and is located within the Chri ...
. Colourful European and North American plants including
phlox
''Phlox'' (; Greek φλόξ "flame"; plural "phlox" or "phloxes", Greek φλόγες ''phlóges'') is a genus of 67 species of perennial and annual plants in the family Polemoniaceae. They are found mostly in North America (one in Siberia) in di ...
,
aster
Aster or ASTER may refer to:
Biology
* ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants
** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English
* Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...
and
geranium
''Geranium'' is a genus of 422 species of annual, biennial, and perennial plants that are commonly known as geraniums or cranesbills. They are found throughout the temperate regions of the world and the mountains of the tropics, but mostly in ...
dominate the moist western end. In the shadiest areas,
hosta
''Hosta'' (, syn. ''Funkia'') is a genus of plants commonly known as hostas, plantain lilies and occasionally by the Japanese name gibōshi. Hostas are widely cultivated as shade-tolerant foliage plants. The genus is currently placed in the fa ...
s are a feature.
Central Rose Garden
![Christchurch Botanic Gardens 08](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Christchurch_Botanic_Gardens_08.JPG)
When the first rose garden was established here in 1909, it was considered the largest and finest in Australasia, with its rectangular rosarium having 132 beds and almost 2500 rose bushes. The rose garden was redeveloped in the mid-1930s, with four paths converging at a mirror pool in the middle of a circular design. Twenty years later a memorial sundial replaced the pool. Now, 104 beds support a profusion of climbing, standard and
Hybrid Tea modern garden roses.
Rock garden
The Rock Garden contains some plants that remain in flower throughout the year. The Rock Garden's terraced south-facing slopes are ideal for growing many alpine plants and most of the plants here are exotic (the native subalpine species are part of the New Zealand collection). On the other side of the path, the Heather Garden faces the sunny north with many species of
heath
A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a cooler ...
and
heather growing here. In 1917, when the original rock garden was developed, gardeners planted an avenue of
limes
Limes may refer to:
* the plural form of lime (disambiguation)
* the Latin word for ''limit'' which refers to:
** Limes (Roman Empire)
(Latin, singular; plural: ) is a modern term used primarily for the Germanic border defence or delimiting ...
. The path was named Beswick's Walk after a former mayor of Christchurch,
Harry Beswick.
Cockayne Memorial Garden
In 1938, the New Zealand Garden was extended to allow space for alpine plants,
hebe and
Leptospermum
''Leptospermum'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae commonly known as tea trees, although this name is sometimes also used for some species of ''Melaleuca''. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the greate ...
beds. The new addition was created as a memorial to
Dr Leonard Cockayne (1855–1934) in honour of his comprehensive contribution to New Zealand's botany, horticulture, ecology and conservation.In the 1960s this garden was completely redesigned and replanted, such as
Kōwhai
Kōwhai ( or ) are small woody legume trees within the genus ''Sophora'' in the family Fabaceae that are native to New Zealand. There are eight species, with ''Sophora microphylla'' and '' S. tetraptera'' being the most recognised as large trees. ...
, Hotorka, hebe and
totara
''Podocarpus totara'' (; from the Maori-language ; the spelling "totara" is also common in English) is a species of podocarp tree endemic to New Zealand. It grows throughout the North Island and northeastern South Island in lowland, montane and ...
.
Azalea and Magnolia Garden
Under canopies of
mature oaks and
silver birch
''Betula pendula'', commonly known as silver birch, warty birch, European white birch, or East Asian white birch, is a species of tree in the family Betulaceae, native to Europe and parts of Asia, though in southern Europe, it is only found ...
trees, the
Azalea
Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus ''Rhododendron'', particularly the former sections ''Tsutsusi'' (evergreen) and '' Pentanthera'' (deciduous). Azaleas bloom in the spring (April and May in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, and Octob ...
flower for about a month from mid-October. Deciduous
Rhododendron
''Rhododendron'' (; from Ancient Greek ''rhódon'' "rose" and ''déndron'' "tree") is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are nati ...
mollis are the main species present with their spring show being enhanced by the sculptured flowers of the magnolias, in bloom slightly earlier, and the cone-shaped flowers of the
horse chestnut
The genus ''Aesculus'' ( or ), with species called buckeye and horse chestnut, comprises 13–19 species of flowering plants in the family Sapindaceae. They are trees and shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with six species n ...
trees.
Heritage Rose garden
This collection began in 1952 and was remodelled in 1999. The garden includes rose species, hybrids and varieties commonly cultivated in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1979, the
World Federation of Rose Societies
The World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS) is an umbrella association of (as of 2015) 39-member countries' national rose societies.
Although founded in 1968 in London by 8 constituent countries' rose societies, the WFRS did not have a first mee ...
adopted a simple classification for roses and Heritage roses are defined as those established before 1867.
Temperate Asian Collection
Contains a temperate Asian collection of trees and shrubs, most of them from China, Japan and the Himalayas.
Water garden
Gravel and sand were removed from this area by the cartload in the early 1900s and used to construct paths around the growing city. The pits left behind were developed into a cluster of ponds.
The ponds’ silty mud floors are perfect for growing water lilies (
Nymphaea
''Nymphaea'' () is a genus of hardy and tender aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution. Many species are cultivated as ornamental plants, and many cultivars have been bred. Some taxa occur as introduc ...
) and are seldom cleaned or disturbed. Many of the water garden plants are herbaceous perennials that lie down in winter, such as the bright blue
Siberian iris
''Iris sibirica'' ( commonly known as Siberian iris or Siberian flag), is a species in the genus ''Iris''. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from Europe (including France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, H ...
and the
marsh marigold
''Caltha palustris'', known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium size perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It flower ...
. West of the main pond is also a
Yucca
''Yucca'' is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flo ...
collection.
Woodlands
Daffodil woodland
Early colonists set aside grounds in Hagley Park to test how plants and animals from around the world would adapt to New Zealand conditions. The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society developed the area, introducing European fish and birdlife as well as a small zoo which also housed several species, including a
California grizzly bear
The California grizzly bear (''Ursus arctos californicus'') is an extinct population or subspecies of the brown bear, generally known (together with other North American brown bear populations) as the grizzly bear. "Grizzly" could have meant "gri ...
. In 1928 the Acclimatisation Society relocated and the land became part of Hagley Park again, with
daffodils
''Narcissus'' is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plant, perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil,The word "daffodil" is also applied to related genera such as ''Ste ...
being planted from 1933.
Woodland Garden
In spring,
primula
''Primula'' () is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. They include the primrose ('' P. vulgaris''), a familiar wildflower of banks and verges. Other common species are '' P. auricula'' (auricula), '' P. veris'' (cow ...
s create a mass of early colour alongside a small stream, Addington Brook, which flows through
South Hagley Park to the Avon River.
Pinetum
The
pinetum is an
arboretum
An arboretum (plural: arboreta) in a general sense is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees of a variety of species. Originally mostly created as a section in a larger garden or park for specimens of mostly non-local species, man ...
of pine trees or related conifers and the planting in the gardens’ pinetum started before
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The collection has matured into a fine expanse of
conifer
Conifers are a group of conifer cone, cone-bearing Spermatophyte, seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the phylum, division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single ...
s, including many species and cultivars of cedar, cypress, fir, larch, juniper and spruce.
Ornamental buildings
*Peace Bell
The Christchurch Botanic Gardens was chosen as the location for the New Zealand Peace Bell. Once the site was blessed by
Ngāi Tahu
Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal Māori (tribe) of the South Island. Its (tribal area) is the largest in New Zealand, and extends from the White Bluffs / Te Parinui o Whiti (southeast of Blenheim), Mount Mahanga and Kahurangi Poi ...
, a raised pavilion was constructed in 2005 and unveiled in 2006. The massive 365 kg bell is inscribed with the English 'World Peace Bell' and Japanese 'sekai heiwa no kane'.
At the unveiling in 2006, Ngāi Tahu gifted Ira Atua Tane, a sculpted piece of pounamu/greenstone, which was placed in the reflection pond beneath the Bell. In the same year, part of this
pounamu
Pounamu is a term for several types of hard and durable stone found in southern New Zealand. They are highly valued in New Zealand, and carvings made from pounamu play an important role in Māori culture.
Name
The Māori word , also used ...
– Ira Atua Wahine – was placed under the Te Korowai Rangimarie – Cloak of Peace sculpture (by
Kingsley Baird) gifted to the
Nagasaki Peace Park
Nagasaki Peace Park is a park located in Nagasaki, Japan, commemorating the atomic bombing of the city on August 9, 1945 during World War II. It is next to the Atomic Bomb Museum and near the Peace Memorial Hall.
History
Established in 1955, an ...
by the New Zealand government and six city councils.
*Band Rotunda
The Bandsmen's Memorial Rotunda was erected in 1926 and was officially opened by
MP Sir Heaton Rhodes. Rhodes, a Colonel in the war, recounted that after
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles ...
only one band could be formed from the four that went to the battle as casualties were so heavy. Until the 1950s, brass bands would regularly play at the Bandsmen's Memorial Rotunda and many Christchurch residents would gather for concerts on a Sunday afternoon.
Conservatories
![NZ040315 Christchurch 02](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/NZ040315_Christchurch_02.jpg)
*Cuningham House
Cuningham House (originally called Winter Gardens) was built in 1923 and opened on 9 August 1924. It is a large, stately structure of architectural importance and is listed with the
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (initially the National Historic Places Trust and then, from 1963 to 2014, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust) ( mi, Pouhere Taonga) is a Crown entity with a membership of around 20,000 people that advocate ...
. A spacious staircase leads to a large peripheral gallery where an extensive collection of tropical plants are displayed such as
Dieffenbachia
''Dieffenbachia'' , commonly known as dumb cane or leopard lily, is a genus of tropical flowering plants in the family Araceae. It is native to the New World Tropics from Mexico and the West Indies south to Argentina. Some species are widely cul ...
,
Peperomia
''Peperomia'' is one of the two large genera of the family Piperaceae. It is estimated that there are at least over 1,000 species, occurring in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are concentrated in northern South America a ...
,
Hoya,
Banana palms,
Anthurium
''Anthurium'' (; Schott, 1829) is a genus of about 1,000Mantovani, A. and T. E. Pereira. (2005)''Anthurium'' (section ''Urospadix''; subsection ''Flavescentiviridia'').''Rodriguesia'' 56(88), 145–60. species of flowering plants, the largest g ...
and
Dracaena. In 2020, a
corpse flower Corpse flower can refer to:
* '' Amorphophallus titanum'', species, also known as the ''Titan arum'', which has the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world
* Carrion flowers or stinking flowers, any flower that emits an odor that smells like r ...
bloomed in the house, which was a popular attraction leading to long queues and an extended opening time.
*Townend House
![Townend1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Townend1.jpg)
The original Townend House was purchased and transferred from the grand Christchurch residence of 'Holly Lea' with funds from the estate of Annie Townend, a wealthy Christchurch heiress, who also owned
Mona Vale. The present Townend House was erected in 1955 to 1956 on the site of the former house of the same name. Townend House is essentially a flowering conservatory where a regular succession of popular greenhouse plants are grown. These include
Calceolaria
''Calceolaria'' (), also called lady's purse, slipper flower and pocketbook flower,"Botanica. The Illustrated AZ of over 10000 garden plants and how to cultivate them", pp. 166-167 Könemann, 2004. or slipperwort, is a genus of plants in the ...
,
Cyclamen
''Cyclamen'' ( or ) is a genus of 23 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. ''Cyclamen'' species are native to Europe and the Mediterranean Basin east to the Caucasus and Iran, with one species in Somalia. They grow ...
, Begonias,
Impatiens
''Impatiens'' is a genus of more than 1,000 species of flowering plants, widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and the tropics. Together with the genus ''Hydrocera'' (one species), ''Impatiens'' make up the family Balsaminaceae. ...
and Primula.
*Garrick House
![Christchurch Botanic Gardens cactus pavilion 2016-02-04](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Christchurch_Botanic_Gardens_cactus_pavilion_2016-02-04.jpg)
It contains the most extensive publicly owned collection of cacti and succulents in New Zealand and also includes a diorama painted by Gordon Gee, the sign and label writer for the Botanic Gardens from 1956 to 1974. The diorama depicts a desert scene representing from South Africa to South America.
*Gilpin House
Built-in the 1960s, Gilpin House is a modest-sized conservatory featuring tropical collections of Orchids, Tillandsias, Bromeliads and carnivorous plants.
![Fern House (Christchurch Botanic Gardens), New Zealand](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Fern_House_%28Christchurch_Botanic_Gardens%29%2C_New_Zealand.jpg)
*Fern House
The Fern House or Fernery was constructed in 1955 as a result of bequests from Mary Rothney Orr and James Foster.
A narrow meandering path winds through collections of New Zealand ferns, the most significant of these being a New Zealand icon the
silver fern
''Alsophila dealbata'', synonym ''Cyathea dealbata'', commonly known as the silver fern or silver tree-fern, or as ponga or punga (from Māori or ),The Māori word , pronounced , has been borrowed into New Zealand English as a generic term fo ...
. Beneath the path a gentle stream moves through the house creating a perfect environment for moisture-loving ferns such as
Asplenium
''Asplenium'' is a genus of about 700 species of ferns, often treated as the only genus in the family Aspleniaceae, though other authors consider ''Hymenasplenium'' separate, based on molecular phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences, a different ...
and
Blechnum
''Blechnum'', known as hard fern, is a genus of ferns in the family Blechnaceae, subfamily Blechnoideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). Two very different circumscriptions of the genus are used by d ...
.
*Foweraker House
Foweraker House was named for Jean Foweraker, a Christchurch alpine plant enthusiast and donor of many collections of alpine plants to the gardens.
The displays of both indigenous and exotic alpine plants frequently change as do the seasons, flowers and foliage. In addition, there is a permanent display of slow-growing conifers that create a neutral looking environment in which the alpine plants can be appreciated.
Bird life
The gardens and the wider area of Hagley Park provide a central city refuge for up to forty species of introduced and native birds. The
kereru is a solid bird with a glossy green upper body, mauve back and white breast. Able to digest larger fruits and broadcast the seed, the pigeon has a key role in native forest renewal with its thudding wingbeats heard well before it is seen. Other native bush-dwellers are the sleek olive green
bellbird, more often heard than seen, and the acrobatic
New Zealand fantail
The New Zealand fantail (''Rhipidura fuliginosa'') is a small insectivorous bird, the only species of fantail in New Zealand. It has four subspecies: ''R. f. fuliginosa'' in the South Island, ''R. f. placabilis'' in the North Island, ''R. f. pe ...
which flits about in search of insects. Flocks of
silvereye
The silvereye or wax-eye (''Zosterops lateralis'') is a very small omnivorous passerine bird of the south-west Pacific. In Australia and New Zealand its common name is sometimes white-eye, but this name is more commonly used to refer to all membe ...
twitter and feed together while tiny
riroriro are also common. The most common bush birds – blackbird, thrush, starling and house sparrow – were introduced in the 1860s.
Other attractions
*Paddling Pool and Playground
A popular playground, it's been entertaining generations of Christchurch children for many years. Close by the playground a Jurassic-era species,
Wollemi Pine
''Wollemia'' is a genus of coniferous trees in the family Araucariaceae. It was known only through fossil records until 1994, when the Australian species ''Wollemia nobilis'' was discovered in a temperate rainforest wilderness area of the Wollemi ...
was planted in 2013, the first of its plantings in New Zealand.
*Climatological station
![Botanic Gardens Magnetic Observatory](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Botanic_Gardens_Magnetic_Observatory.jpg)
The Climatological Station has provided daily readings for well over a century. Gardens staff record the information at 9 am each day. Cloud cover, visibility, wind direction, rainfall and other details are forwarded to the
national Meteorological Service. The 1940s wooden building beside the Climatological Station is a remnant of the Magnetic Observatory set up here in 1901. In 1897
Adolf Schmidt
Adolf Schmidt (18 April 1925 – 26 November 2013) was a German trade union leader and politician.
Born in , Homberg, Schmidt became a mechanic at a coal mine, then in 1942 was drafted into the navy as a submarine mechanic. He was taken a ...
proposed a
magnetic field
A magnetic field is a vector field that describes the magnetic influence on moving electric charges, electric currents, and magnetic materials. A moving charge in a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular to its own velocity and to ...
observatory to improve the distribution of magnetic observatories across the world;
there were then 4 in Britain and 5 in Japan, but only 3 south of the equator;
Jakarta
Jakarta (; , bew, Jakarte), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta ( id, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta) is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Lying on the northwest coast of Java, the world's most populous island, Jakarta ...
,
Mauritius
Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label=Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It incl ...
and
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
. In 1901 a
magnetograph
Magnetograph may refer to:
* Solar magnetograph, an instrument that produces solar magnetogram
In solar observation, a magnetogram is a pictorial representation of the spatial variations in strength of the solar magnetic field.
Solar magnetogram ...
house, an absolute house (for celestial and magnetic measurements) and an office and
seismograph
A seismometer is an instrument that responds to ground noises and shaking such as caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and explosions. They are usually combined with a timing device and a recording device to form a seismograph. The output ...
room were built.
The observatory was famously used by both
Captain Robert Falcon Scott and
Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic teams to make magnetic surveys in preparation for their expeditions.
However, electrification of the
tramways in 1905 interfered with the magnetic measurements. As a result, between 1912 and 1929, a new observatory was set up at
Amberley Amberley may refer to:
Places
Australia
*Amberley, Queensland, near Ipswich, Australia
*RAAF Base Amberley, a Royal Australian Air Force military airbase
United Kingdom
* Amberley, Gloucestershire, England
* Amberley, Herefordshire, England
...
,
though some of the work continued until the land reverted to Christchurch City Council in 1970.
GNS now does the work at
Eyrewell.
*Kate Sheppard Memorial Walk
The
Kate Sheppard
Katherine Wilson Sheppard ( Catherine Wilson Malcolm; 10 March 1848 – 13 July 1934) was the most prominent member of the women's suffrage movement in New Zealand and the country's most famous suffragist. Born in Liverpool, England, she emig ...
Memorial Walk opened in 1990 to commemorate a pioneer who fought hard to achieve the right for New Zealand women to vote. The
white camellia became a lasting symbol of
women's suffrage
Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...
and achievement in New Zealand. Canterbury women's groups gifted 100 camellias to the gardens in 1990, forming the beginnings of the Kate Sheppard Memorial Walk. In 1993, a new variety of white camellia, named Kate Sheppard, was created to mark the 100th anniversary of the successful campaign.
Recent events
*2011 Christchurch Earthquake
The Christchurch Botanic Gardens tea kiosk was closed due to damage from the
2011 Christchurch earthquake
A major earthquake occurred in Christchurch on Tuesday 22 February 2011 at 12:51 p.m. local time (23:51 UTC, 21 February). The () earthquake struck the entire of the Canterbury region in the South Island, centred south-east ...
. Upon repair, the kiosk temporarily housed the Enchanted Garden exhibition by artist Jenny Gillies but is now the home of the Canterbury Horticultural Society.
*2019 Mosque Shooting
After the
Christchurch mosque shootings
On 15 March 2019, two consecutive mass shootings occurred in a terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The attacks, carried out by a lone gunman who entered both mosques during Friday prayer, began at the Al Noor Mosque ...
, Christchurch residents and visitors placed flowers, cards and teddy bears against the Botanical Gardens wall as they mourned for those killed and sought a way to show love to the Muslim community.
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
1863 establishments in New Zealand
Botanical gardens in New Zealand
Botanic Gardens
A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...
Botanic Gardens
A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...
Protected areas of Canterbury, New Zealand
Herb gardens
Urban forests in New Zealand
Woodland gardens