The Hutt News THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1930. OUR RESERVES.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 45, 17 April 1930, Page 7

The Hutt News THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1930. OUR RESERVES.

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Following an article on Hydrangeas •which appeared in our Gardening -Column last week, the suggestion has been made, that this popular and magnificant flower should be extensively grown in some of our public gardens. It is not unknown, even in New Zealand, for certain towns to be famous for trees or flowers which flourish particularly well. The Hutt Valley is already associated all over New Zealand Tvith its successful growth of spring flowers. . -Our municipal gardens hay© made •enormous strides duVing the last three; j^ears and 'have provided some very^flhe displays at the local flower shows. The Hiitt is slowly becoming famous as the headquarters ■of the" N.Z-. Alpine and Rock Garden Society and although the rockeries in Riddif ord Park are only a , year old, they are already attracting a good deal of attention and proving a .source v of Joy, not only to those who | are particularly interested in this form of horticulture, but to the general public who take great delight in wandering along its winding paths. As time goes on and as funds permit, it is quite conceivable that this garden /will become muc-h more1 extensive and. in consequence will add materially to the prestige of the Hutt Valley. What .an ideal spot this would be for the cultivation of hydrangeas in all their glory 1 In combination with the rock garden, .the 'hydrangea .might well be grown along the banks of the creek under trees so that it would become a .fairyland.

Many of us have been privileged to •see the beautiful- hydrangea garden of ; Mr. Archibald, at Days Bay, and we It'ecl sure it would be appreciated by the people of this district if this beautiful flower in its numerous new varieties .-could be .featured conspicuously in our borougih reserves. No one will deny that what has been done in. Riddif ord Park in laying out the beautiful gardens is a joy to many and is-favourably .commented on by a great many visitors.

There is probably no reason why-tiiis ifine asset to the borough should not be increased, by devoting a good sized patch to the exclusive cultivation of Ihydrangeas. The H-utt is eminently suited to their cultivation and if a tcihoiee collection could be got together it could be made something worthy of town at a minimum of cost and -would do much to,advertise the Garden sSuburb all over New Zealand.