(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Saturday Morning Garden Blogging - Vol. 20.24: New Zealand Gardens, Markets, Comestibles, and Such. [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-15 All Are Welcome! This is a weekly blog with a fun vibe that often veers off gardening, so stop on by and join the conversation. We are here every Saturday at 8AM Central with new content and chit chat continuing throughout the week. ══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════ This guy peers in the bathroom window on NZ Air. New Zealand is part of the Polynesian Island group. It’s located between approximately 35 degrees and 45 degrees South of the Equator. For reference, the continental US is between 25 and 50 degrees North of the Equator. The Māori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa, often translated as 'land of the long white cloud’. It is a long and narrow country, extending 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) along its north-north-east axis with a maximum width of 400 kilometres (250 mi).[5] The land size of 268,680 km2 (103,740 sq mi) makes it the sixth-largest island country.[3] New Zealand consists of a large number of islands, estimated around 600.[6] The islands give it 15,134 km (9,404 mi) of coastline (Wikipedia). Island groups in the South Pacific Ocean. It took me awhile to get oriented in time and season. New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, so our visit at the end of March and beginning of April was during NZ Fall. And as we traveled from north to south, the climate got colder, not warmer. Plus we were a whole day ahead, since we crossed the international dateline. The best avocado toast in the world for breakfast helped me recover my wits the first morning. Our journey started in Auckland on the North Island, New Zealand’s largest city. On our second day we took a ferry to Tiritiri Matangi Island, a nature reserve. I would need to write a whole diary on that island preserve to do it justice. Sunrise from our hotel in Auckland, flora of Tiritiri Matangi, endangered Takahe bird, the island lighthouse, and TREE FERNS! All aboard Kiwi Rail! We traveled on three different trains, a ferry, and a bus at the end of the trip. Most of the trains were about a half day ride, with one to two nights in hotels in the towns or national parks in-between. First stop: Ohakune, the carrot capitol of New Zealand. Ohakune was also the jumping off point for Tongariro National Park, and close to the southwestern slopes of the active volcano Mount Ruapehu. New Zealand has an abundance of ferns, about 200 species. Also an abundance of waterfalls. Heather (purple flowers) was imported by settlers and is considered invasive. One fruit I wanted to try was the Feijoa. It’s native to South America but grown widely in New Zealand. Luckily it was just in season on the North Island. It tasted like citrusy pear. I sampled several Feijoa products. The next stopover was Wellington, the capital of New Zealand and the world’s windiest city. We visited Zealandia, an ecosanctuary right in the city. Mr M liked that we rode the funicular to get there. New Zealand is volcanic, thus much of our walking was up and down. The next day we took the ferry (3 & ½ hours) across Cook Strait to the South Island. Rainbow crossing the Cook Strait. Tree Ferns are everywhere (this one is in Wellington), I never got tired of seeing them and I want one for my greenhouse. We went straight for the wine tasting upon arriving at the South Island. We also managed to taste some gin and chocolate. Sheep ranches are everywhere, which makes for excellent cheese. This sheepherder is in downtown Blenheim, where we stayed the first night on the South Island. Strawberry Tree, native to the Mediterranean. On the train to Kaikoura (the Pacific Ocean). The railway hugged the coastline. Norfolk Island Pines in Kaikoura. I don’t even want to think about how sad my Norfolk Pine in a pot at home is, in comparison. All aboard! Although everyplace in New Zealand was beautiful and amazing, I think Christchurch was my favorite city. Maybe it was the visit to the farmer’s market. The Farmer’s Market is located in a park that was an original settlers estate. I was sorry that I’d already eaten breakfast. Even so, I was able to try a traditional Afghan biscuit, which was on my list (image #6, chocolatey on a white plate). Some of the chocolate covered figs came home with me. But I was already at my limit for bringing bottled items home, so I had to make do with just tasting the liquid refreshments. We’d found our way to the market by bus, but walked back to central Christchurch on a lovely pedestrian path. The path took us to the 165 hectare Hagley Park. Ensconced in Hagley park are the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. So many gardens, so little time. This is just the Herbaceous Border leading to the main entrance. Looking great for Fall. Conservatories and Visitor’s Center (with a great collection of old garden implements and items). The Rose Garden, established in 1909. The Tranzalpine (that’s how they spell it) Train took us from Christchurch on the east coast to Greymouth on the west coast of the South Island. From Greymouth we headed north to Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park. The Canterbury Plains leaving Christchurch, Pancake Rocks, Treetop Canopy Walk, Crossing the Southern Alps on the train. The Tasman Sea on the west coast. There were lots of goodies at Mrs Jones Fruit Stall, including New Zealand Ice Cream, which is vanilla ice cream mixed with fresh fruit and run through a soft ice cream machine. Do I still have room in the luggage for the golf-ball-size chocolate covered ginger balls? The answer is yes, plus some Feijoa jam. After a few days and nights traveling south, stopping at a couple more towns, we arrived at our final destination: Queenstown. It was starting to feel and look like fall in Queenstown. The founder of Queenstown, William Gilbert Rees. Right next to the ice cream shop. A lovely walk in the Queenstown Gardens on the peninsula. We took a boat tour on Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, which is a five hour bus ride from Queenstown. Even the bus ride was beautiful, as was the forty minute flight (on a 12 seater plane) through the Alps back to the city. Bus ride to Milford Sound, the Sound, a little plane like the one we flew on (please don’t hit the mountain, I thought), over the Alps, rivers and foothills. Here’s a link to a 57 second video of a some of the many Milford Sound Waterfalls. New Zealand is an exceptional place to visit. There is an active effort to protect the environment and promote native plants and animals. The government is phasing out hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics. We had fun eating Thai food with cardboard utensils. The people are very friendly and helpful; the food and drink is excellent. It might be the closest to Utopia that I’ve experienced. ══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════ Southwest Michigan weather has been somewhat utopian this spring and early summer (tornados notwithstanding). Frequent well-timed rain, mild temperatures, although a bit too windy and it’s starting to get too dry now. It’s been great for gardening, and that’s what we like! What’s happening in your garden? 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