TAUPO GARDENS

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 23, 18 June 1952, Page 1

TAUPO GARDENS

COLOUR FOR THE WINTER

(By

"Flora.")

Careful selection of shrubs will provide colour all the year round. Up to now I have listed shrubs that give brightness to our gardens durIng the spring summer and autumn. What can we plant that will carry this effect on through our Winter s which are severe enough here, to check the early flowering spring flowers I think our choice should be some of those ever-greens, with either golden or varigated foliage. You will be able to make quite a collection from the following hardy eustomers. 'Photinia glabra rubens, 6ft. — This shrub is noted for its brilliant red coloured young foliage, which it seems to produce during most of the year. Makes a very good hedge. Picca pungens Kosteriana, (The "Blue Spruce") — The foliage is intensely blue, especially so, grown at our altitude. Slow growing, but eventually reaching 30 ft. Ligustrum ovalifolium varigatum (The "Golden Varigated Privit") — This makes a very good hedge. 'Phoruim tenax rubrum — Quite a f ew of our natives have either varigated or coloured-leaved varieties among their families. This is the coppery-bronze leaved flax. Hoheria aurea varigata — Another native, one of the Lace barks; is very showy with its creamy-yellow varigations. Cupressus Crippsi- — This is one of the best of the Golden Conifers, grows agout 10 ft., an elegant speciman, and certainly adds a splash of colour to the dreary winter scene. Dodonaea viscosa purpurea— The purple-leaved Ake Ake. I have seen some very fine specimens growing rn Taupo; but it does need protection especially when young; preferably a wall, because if grown in the shade will not maintain its colour. E^uonymus japonicus oreus — This is the "Golden Euonymus," lends v a splash of colour to our gardens througvhout the year. The next three shrubs are deciduous, but must be mentioned, because of their lovely coloured foliage at other times. Fagus Riversii, D. — This is the lovely "Copper Beech.,> A firm favourite with all, and should be in every garden. Grand for decorative work, when it reaches the size when branches can be c»t. Fagus Llatia, ("The Golden Beech,,) 20 ft. — The foliage of this tree is a rich buttery-yellow. A striking addition to the garden. Fraxinus Raywoodi, D., ("Claret Ash??) — Tjhis is certainly a cheery menrber of the community; the foliage of a reddish* hue deepens to gorgeous autumn colouring. For those who wish to grow something just a bit diffierent, I am listIng a few of the lesser known shrubs. Tfalesia carolina, D., 8 ft., ("The iSnowdrop Tree") — A good doer in cold localities. Bears masses of snowdrop like flowers. TJnfortunately I haye not seen them growing here, ,so do not know if they will take kindly to our conditions. But all are reasonably hardy. Hakia laurina, 10 ft., Evergreen, ("The Pin cushion Flower") — A showy shrub. Must have good drainage, and is hardy. The flowers are crimson, not unlike a scabious. PodaljTia buxifolia, E., 6 ft. — Has silvery foliage, and the flowers

are purple, wih mauve wings. Quick growing. Ocpna multiflora - E - 6ft. — Bears yellow flowers in the spring, followed by scarlet and black berries. Idesia polycarpa - D - 12ft. — This . is a very ornamental tree,nvhich col- I ours well in autumn. The bright red ! berries stay on to well into the winter. Unfortunately a pair is required before it will berry. Ginkgo biloba ("The Maidenhair Tree" - D.) — This does well in Taupo. And its foliage does really resemble the maidenhair fern.