Christchurch City Council's native plant demonstration garden
Christchurch has been well known as the Garden City. In redeveloping our city we have the opportunity to complement our acclaimed exotic gardens with new green spaces featuring our special native flora.
This garden was designed and installed by Landcare Research, mainly using plants from its Supreme Award-winning exhibit at the 2012 Ellerslie International Flower Show.
Gardens create peace and tranquility in the midst of hustle and bustle. They can showcase the distinctiveness and variety of our native plants, from the tiny Poa imbecilla growing in the cracks between the pavers, to the diverse tapestry lawn species, and shrub, fern and taller forest plants in the bush. As they develop, these places will provide habitats to attract native birds and other wildlife back into the city.
Colin Meurk was invited to create this demonstration garden outside the transitional Christchurch City Council offices in the Christchurch CBD. This building has now been demolished, sadly displacing the garden for the time being. A new location is planned to be developed in 2014.