Bason Botanic Gardens

Bason Botanic Gardens are located in Whanganui in the Manawatu District of New Zealand. They have been rated as a Garden of Significance by the New Zealand Gardens Trust and offer six themed areas,[1] including one of the most extensive public-garden orchid collections in the country, and the conservatory architecture is considered unique. Much of the development work is conducted by the Bason Botanic Gardens Trust, which collaborates with the City Council.[2]

Entrance to Homestead garden

Geography

Bason Botanic Gardens are located on the Central West coast of New Zealand's North Island, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) northwest from Whanganui.[1][3] They are set on 25 hectares (62 acres) in a relatively frost-free environment. Bushy Park Forest Reserve is nearby.[4]

History

Founded in 1966, Stanley and Blanche Bason[5] gave their farm to the city council for the purpose of creating a botanical reserve,.[6] The main road work and the damming of Mowhanau stream took place in 1971.[2] The garden was developed between 1980 and 2000.[1] The Bason Botanic Gardens Trust was formed in 1982 and consists of the Board as well as members of Friends of the Bason.[7] The gardens were given to the residents of Wanganui by Stanley and Blanche Bason in 1996.[8] The New Zealand Gardens Trust honoured Bason Botanic with the distinction of being a "Garden of Regional Significance" in 2004, and with being a "Garden of Significance" in 2008.[2]

Architecture

The conservatories were constructed from the recycled bricks from two demolished Wanganui picture theatres.[9][10] Landscape architect Tony Jackman, the first President of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects,[11] designed most of the buildings.[10]

Brugmansia blooming in the Homestead garden

Flora

The gardens are divided into several areas: the Conifer Arboretum, Dress Circle, Millennium Hill, Native Bush and Wetlands, Lakeside Flats and the Woodlands area.[10] Flora includes camellias, daffodils, magnolias, Norfolk Island Pine, and roses. A Mediterranean garden includes Aeonium, Aloe, Agave, Euphorbia and Echium. The subtropical section of the garden includes the aloes and phoenix palms. The conservatories contains tropical plants, begonias and orchids of national importance.[8][9] A section of the gardens includes maturing revegetation while a bank contains native Hebes.[5]

References
  1. Wassilieff, Maggy (1 March 2009). "Bason Botanic Gardens, Whanganui (3rd of 5)". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. New Zealand: The Government. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  2. "Bason Botanic Gardens Awarded 'Garden of Significance' status by the New Zealand Gardens Trust". Wanganui. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  3. "Orchid award for Bason Botanic gardens". Wanganui Chronicle. 16 October 2004. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  4. "Bason Botanic Gardens". Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  5. "Gardens Open Taranaki". Best Gardening. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  6. Flagler, Bette (10 December 2004). Adventure Guide New Zealand. Hunter Publishing. pp. 161–. ISBN 978-1-58843-405-0. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  7. "About the Trust". Bason Botanic Gardens. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  8. "Parks & Reserves". NewZealand.com. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  9. "Bason Botanic Gardens". Gardens NZ. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  10. "Garden Features". Bason Botanic Gardens. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  11. "History -About". New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.

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