MAY MEETING of the Great Chesterford and District Gardening Club
Robin Carsberg has been involved in horticulture as a grower, judge and renowned photographer. His talk in May entitled “Beautiful New Zealand – The Flora of the Southern Hemisphere” transported members to the Land of the Long White Cloud, flora and fauna, and where some of the species of fern are not found in any other part of the world.
Colourful slides of exotic trees and flowers illustrated the talk. Kōwhai trees grow throughout the country and have yellow cascading flowers, (kowhi is Māori for yellow –the bloom regarded as the unofficial national flower). The Pohutukawa tree has fiery red flowers that bloom in December is referred to as the Christmas Tree. There were slides of the Matagouri tree with its vicious thorns and of the Manuka or Teatree known for the honey made from its nectar. The slide of the wild Lupins in the South Island was breath-taking – a carpet of blue and pink.
Spring Flower Competition winner was Rosemary Day (beautiful blue Bearded Iris). Second, Philippa Whalley (Solomons Seal), Third Carol Hatfield (Lithospermum).