HASTINGS GARDENS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 28 November 1927, Page 8

HASTINGS GARDENS

A VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS PRAISE FOR HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. AN APPRECIATION. The following letter of appreciation ha o been received by “Stella” from Edith Lyndhurst, a recent visitor to Hastings;— “1 have been a visitor to Hastings for the last two weeks. I am very interested in flowers and gardens; in fact all classes of horticulture, Ino words of a great writer to me very much when he wrote: ‘Floweis create and cultivate in the human, heart the highest and purest emotions, thev teach and reward habits of care, confidence, tenderness, patience and perseverance and also revefence; for are thev not the sweetest messengers of,God to man. Flowers and foliage humanise, civilise, and refine mankind: they indicate and’ also improve the character of their cultivators : they furnish the best and highest of all our pleasures.’ “I visited the Rose and Sweet Pea Show last Saturday—a wonderful exhibition indeed, and a great credit to Hastings. A great many of the exhibits were worthy of more than praise and mention. Your Horticultural Society and flower growers do things properly in this town. In some towns the attempts at a flower show are so feeble—such a want of interest, and no love of making the show a success. All I can say is ‘Carry on Hastings’ in your interesting work; you are arriving at perfection, and your beautiful Assembly Hall is so adapted for a flower show. “Next comes Cornwall Park—the magnificent entrance, the nicely sheltered tennis courts, the wellplanned stream for the waterfowl, the high level lake (what glorious possibilities it has). I can see visions of water lilies of wonderful varieties; this climate is so suitable for them. The pretty little zoo and the part tdrat gives never-ending pleasure, the children’s playground, have been wall catered for. The paddling pool gives the final touch of completeness, “To go back to the flower world again. The beautiful rose garden and flower-beds, especially the beds edged with the glorious red-shaded Sweet Williams, they attract attention at once. I am sure the citizens of Hastings must be very proud of Cornwall Park, and those who live in close proximity are privileged. What a i ecreation to the mind and body to walk over it! PRIVATE GARDENS “I felt anxious to have a look around the town at some of the private gardens and they impressed me very much, although it was iust glancing over the fences. The first 1 noticed was Mr, Scannell’s. in King street, with the well-established and wonderfully tinted maples and gorgeous rhododendrons. I can see there are many years’ collection here. At Mrs Tosswill’s Fitzroy Avenuealthough not so easy to get an outside glimpse—a great collection of different plants are grown here, ir eluding a small rockery and water garden. This lady had a splendid exhibition of cut flowers in the show for exhibition only, which were milch admired. Mr. A I. Rainbow’s (corner Tomoana road and Duke street): I had a good opportunity of looking into this garden, being on the corner. What I admired was the way it was laid out. The finest and most per feetly shaped walnut tree I have ever seen stands in front of the garage. The trunk of this tree is about six or seven feet in height (perfectly straight) before branching out. In the front garden grown ns a specimen tree, there is a scarlet manuka, and if I were asked to give a prize to the finest and most gorgeous shrub in the town Mr. Rainbow’s scarlet manuka would get it. “Mrs Rockett’s, Tomoana road • This is a new garden about five years old (I should say) with a low rough, cast fence at the front (I wish there were more rough-cast low fences, instead of hedges). It is pretty, artistic, and modern, with all the borders edged in limestone nicks, and a wonderful collection of verbenas, all grown in separate clumns -nd selected varieties. .This lady took first prize at the show tor flowering shrubs.

Mr. Cato's, York street: A spacious garden. An outstanding feature is the grand collection of copper beeches in all stages. These plants nre hw-i to procure now and should be much valued. They look best in farge gardens.

Mr. Nicoll's. York street: This garden was entered in the gardens competition and got first prize so no further recommendation i fi neeued. “I would like to go on further nnd explain more of what I think of some of the pretty gardens in town, hut time wil] not pennit. 1 am coming back again next rear and will have another look round.’’