Christchurch is in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island and is the largest city on this island. Like the North Island's Auckland, it is a key arrival point and hub for international travellers.
Christchurch is situated close to the East coast and to the West lie the immense ... Read review
Position: full sun/partial shadeSoil: fertile, ... more
moist, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: JulyHardiness: frost hardy (may need winter protection)With their arching, sword-shaped leaves, Phormiums make a dramatic statement in the garden. Originating from New Zealand, where their fibre has traditionally been used in the same way as hemp or sisal, they are versatile evergreen plants that tolerate a range of conditions and look at home in a variety of different planting schemes. They have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more colourful varieties being introduced. As its name suggests, this one has all the colours of the sunset - broad, bronze-green leaves with rose-pink or apricot margins that sing in the sunlight. In hot summers, spikes of tubular, yellow-green flowers will shoot up from the centre. This spectactular phormium is perfect for a sunny, exotic or Mediterranean-style garden, aspart of a scheme based on'hot' colours, or as a foil for ornamental grasses. Garden care: In late spring remove any dead or damaged leaves and apply a mulch of well-rotted organic matter to stimulate vigorous, new growth.
well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: JulyHardiness: frost hardy (may need winter protection)With their arching, strappy, sword-shaped leaves, Phormiums make a dramatic statement in the garden. Originating from New Zealand, where their fibre has traditionally been used in the same way as hemp or sisal, they are versatile evergreen plants that tolerate a range of conditions and look at home in a variety of different planting schemes. They have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more colourful vareities being introduced . This is a compact variety, with deep purple-bronze leaves that make dramatic punctuation marks in a sheltered, sunny patio or courtyard. The dark leaves are beautifully offset by gravel, too. In hot summers, a spike of tubular, red flowers will shoot up from the centre, followed by sturdy seed-heads. Garden care: Requires minimal pruning. In late spring remove any dead or damaged leaves and apply a balanced fertiliser and a mulch of well-rotted organic matter to stimulate vigorous, new growth.
Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering ... more
period: August to SeptemberHardiness: frost hardy (may need winter protection)With their arching, strappy, sword-shaped leaves, Phormiums make a dramatic statement in the garden. Originating from New Zealand, where their fibre has traditionally been used in the same way as hemp or sisal, they are versatile evergreen plants that tolerate a range of conditions and look at home in a variety of different planting schemes. They have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more colourful varieties being introduced. Platt's Black is a wonderful recent introduction with sword-like, deep purple-black leaves. It makes a stunning centrepiece in a container, or an architectural specimen plant in the border, providing a fabulous contrast for silvers, pinks, blues and whites. In hot summers, a spike of tubular, red flowers will shoot up from the centre, followed by study seed-heads. Garden care: In late spring, remove any dead or damaged leaves and apply a mulch of well-rotted organic matter to stimulate vigorous, new growth.
well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: JulyHardiness: frost hardy (needs winter protection)With their arching, strappy, sword-shaped leaves, Phormiums make a dramatic statement in the garden. Originating from New Zealand, where their fibre has traditionally been used in the same way as hemp or sisal, they are versatile evergreen plants that tolerate a range of conditions and look at home in a variety of different planting planting schemes. This, combined with the increasing number of colourful varieties being introduced, means that they have become increasingly popular in recent years. This one is a large, robust species, with thick, dark green leaves with blue-green undersides. In hot summers, towering spikes of tubular, red flowers emerge from the centre, followed by sturdy seed-heads. This New Zealand flax makes a magnificent feature plant for a large, sunny, garden, whereit will provide structure and act as a foil for flowering plants. It copes particularly well with wind and coastal sites. Garden care: In late spring remove any dead or damaged leaves and apply a balanced fertiliser and a mulch of well-rotted organic matter to stimulate vigorous, new growth.
well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: JulyHardiness: frost hardy (may needs winter protection)With their arching, strappy, sword-shaped leaves, Phormiums make a dramatic statement in the garden. Originating from New Zealand, where their fibre has traditionally been used in the same way as hemp or sisal, they are versatile evergreen plants that tolerate a range of conditions and look at home in a variety of different planting schemes. They have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more colourful varieties being introduced. This one has apricot-tinted, pale-yellow, sword-shaped leaves with bottle green and bronze edges that sing in the sunlight. This magnificent, multi-coloured phormium is perfect for creating a sub-tropical effect in a sunny, sheltered spot in the garden. In hot summers, a spike of tubular, red flowers will shoot up from the centre, followed by sturdy seed-heads that provide interest in the winter garden. Garden care: Requires minimal pruning. In late spring remove any dead or damaged leaves and apply a balanced fertiliser and a mulch of well-rotted organic matter to stimulate vigorous, new growth.
well-drained soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: July Flower colour: red Other features: arching, wine-red leaves with bronze marginsHardiness: frost hardyBroad, arching, wine-red leaves with bronze margins and spikes of tubular, red summer flowers. This vibrant, evergreen foliage plant is excellent for brightening a sheltered, sunny patio or courtyard garden. In frost-prone areas container-grown specimens should be over-wintered indoors under glass. Garden care: Requires minimal pruning. In late spring remove any dead or damaged leaves and apply a balanced fertiliser and a mulch of well-rotted organic matter to stimulate vigorous, new growth. Goes well with: Trachycarpus fortunei, Musa bajoo, Trachelospermum jasminoides, Cordyline australis'Atropurpurea', Hemerocallis'Stella D'Oro', Fargesia nitida.
well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: JulyFlower colour: yellow-greenOther features: creamy-yellow and green striped leaves, with a thin red edgeHardiness: frost hardySpikes of tubular, yellow-green flowers emerge in summer above clumps of sword-shaped, creamy-yellow and green striped leaves, with a thin red edge. This highly-decorative mountain flax makes a great all-year feature plant for a sheltered, sunny, site. In frost-prone areas, over-winter container-grown specimens in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory. Garden care: Requires minimal pruning. In late spring remove any dead or damaged leaves and apply a balanced fertiliser and a mulch of well-rotted organic matter to stimulate vigorous, new growth.
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Advantages: Beautiful city Disadvantages: Not very Kiwi
Christchurch is in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island and is the largest city on this island. Like the North Island's Auckland, it is a key arrival point and hub for international travellers.
Christchurch is situated close to the East coast and to the West lie the immense flat sweeps of the Canterbury plains. These vast plains feel flat, even to me, a native of East Anglia. Their main use is farmland and they require ... ...much like to see the Christchurch Gondola, a cable car that takes you to nearby Mount Cavendish, but it is not very convenient to access if you only have a short time in the city and are travelling by public transport. The public transport is, in my (very limited) experience very good - it was straightforward to get from the airport to the city centre by bus. The centre itself is small enough to walk around. Do take a look at the cathedral if you ... more
Christchurch is in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island and is the largest city on this island. Like the North Island's Auckland, it is a key arrival point and hub for international travellers.
Christchurch is situated close to the East coast and to the West lie the immense flat sweeps of the Canterbury plains. These vast plains feel flat, even to me, a native of East Anglia. Their main use is farmland and they require regular wind blocks of tall fences of trees to stop the topsoil from blowing away.
Named by the after Oxford's Christ Church (a college that one of the Canterbury Association went to), it was a colony sponsored by the Church of England about 150 years ago. Even today, the city centre has an extremely British in feel to it and even has a river Avon upon which you can go punting!The centre itself has the feel of a very small city, but this is deceptive as maps of the sprawling suburbs show.
It reminded me of a mixture between Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews. Indeed, adjacent to the river on either side, the roads are called Oxford Terrace and Cambridge Terrace. This naming scheme can make navigation interesting on occasion - you start off on one road and it suddenly turns into a road with another name, then changes back again further down.
There is much for the tourist to do in Christchurch. I recommend the trams, the Botanic Gardens and the Canterbury museum in particular. I would very much like to see the Christchurch Gondola, a cable car that takes you to nearby Mount Cavendish, but it is not very convenient to access if you only have a short time in the city and are travelling by public transport. The public transport is, in my (very limited) experience very good - it was straightforward to get from the airport to the city centre by bus. The centre itself is small enough to walk around. Do take a look at the cathedral if you get an opportunity - I was lucky enough to visit when there was a carol service, to which I was immediately invited.
For accommodation, I stayed in the Copthorne Central - this was reasonably priced, comfortable and was, indeed, central. For food, I can recommend Dux De Lux, which is particularly good for vegetarian foods. From the centre, you can go on day tours to see Lord of the Rings sites, which are worth a visit if you have lots of spare money! There is even a Lord of the Rings shop in the tram station.
In conclusion, this is a very good city to go visit, even if you only have a couple of days to spare in your trip to New Zealand. It is extremely different from the rest of the country (and, sadly, has relatively little Maori influence in the city centre), so don't go for a taste of authentic New Zealand life.
Advantages: So many, such a beautiful place Disadvantages: None id go again.
Christchurch new zealand. Well what can i say? One of THE most beautiful places i have ever visited in the world.
I visited christchurch last christmas (2007-2008) and had one of the most memorable times of my life.
When we arrived in christchurch airport the security was tight, showing the care that new zealand has for their country. We had our walking boots washed down and our big rucksacks emptied to make sure everything in them was ok! Which ... ...On our way travelling through christchurch we commented how fresh and clean the whole place looked which is alot different to the UK. We only stayed in christchurch for one night at that point beuase we were spending a week in kaikoura first but thats another beautiful story! On the first night we went out to buy fish and chips and were amazed at how friendly everyone was. In the chip shop we were invited to a firework and music event that was going ...
alico 31.07.2008
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