Beginner inspiration from public planting

When I took up the challenge of transforming my backyard with zero knowledge, I was left wondering how anyone else in my position got started? It didn’t come naturally!

Well, my pale green-thumbed friends, the answer is literally waving at you from the planted-up traffic island down the road, or the park your local playground is in, the front gate of the local school or even in a cemetery garden.
You might be shaking your head at me, thinking of the very uninspiring greenery that I have asked you to notice, but the point I am encouraging you to see is that if you notice your local boring examples you will be tuned in to see the great ones.

The CTV Building commemorative garden in central Christchurch.

There are advantages to living in a city that is rebuilding itself.
Following the devastating Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, amid the fits and starts of reshaping the future of our public spaces, a group of people with great foresight designed and introduced planting to invigorate all levels of plant lover.

Banished were the shrub-based, mostly exclusively native borders, to be replaced with a rich tapestry of texture, form and even seasonal flowers en masse. It was a move more commonly seen in the immaculately-tended petunia borders of town gardens or in rings of planted colour around the feet of statues. And I am not talking just begonia and petunia displays either. Think 50 metre-long runs of pink and white gaura mixed happily with clumping grasses and delicate sprays of Japanese irises. Echinacea raising its bobble heads among spiky spreading grasses and a commemorative space that could be blueprinted as a fascinating seasonal garden for any home space.

“Put simply, if I ever wondered what I could grow here in my Canterbury environment, the answers have been conveniently laid out on display for me to pick and choose from at my whim. Central Christchurch is the closest thing I have found to a healthy, diverse virtual garden Pinterest board.”

Recently, I took a bike tour of my favourite plantings so I could share them with you. The following are favourite areas at street level. The list does not include the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, which need an entire feature to themselves.

City Promenade

Swooping along the edges of the Avon river from the hospital right down to the Margaret Mahy playground is a path shared by walkers and cyclists, following what was traffic-based Oxford Terrace. This area is filled to the brim with great ideas and features that could be pinched for both small and large-scale gardens. I loved the rich examples of colour and texture brought through the use of non-flowering native and exotic shrubs, with real lessons in what can be achieved by mixing plant heights.

Endless ideas in texture, ground cover and colour

Massive white echinacea being enjoyed by local pollinators

I was excited to see juicy, huge white and pink echinacea popping up for the summer amid year-round structure. A short step sideways, to the other side of the playground, presents a beautiful, maturing avenue of trees underplanted with a full, fluffy border of dwarf toe toe (or similar), renga renga and mounds of muehlenbeckia.

On visiting this area in summer, I was once again reminded of the powerful effect planting can have in creating atmosphere.

Lovely planting on the side of Armagh street bordering the Margerat Mahy playground.

Cambridge Terrace

Seek out the strips of planting between the road and the river, keeping your eyes on them all year round for a lesson in seasonal planting.

In my humble observation, these beds nod at the concept of naturalistic planting design, beautifully mixing flowering perennials and grasses for a nearly year-round show. I simply love the gentle, delicate waves of pink and white gaura that weave through their spikier neighbours near the Bridge of Remembrance.

Between Worcester and Armagh streets there are fascinating beds focused on green texture that provide a brilliant recipe for those still shunning flowers. Glossy leaves vs ethereal grass heads vs spikes vs succulents: The keys to your interesting, rich garden space lie here.

Pink and white gaura dotted with spikier planting looks fantastic for months !

Cashel Street pedestrian area

I visited on a busy sunny Saturday and felt quietly proud of the bustling atmosphere of it all. This area was hard-hit by the earthquakes and apart from the odd building, is largely brand new. It is a real plus that the mature trees dotting the path through the city could be saved. The planted seating around them remains a well-used space for weary shoppers.

My favourite feature of this area are the columns of star jasmine that smother the bases of street lights and tram infrastructure.They could have just left them as poles and scattered a few greenish plants around the base, but real effort was made to take ideas to the next level and I, for one, really appreciate that.

Towers smothered with jasmine in Cashel Mall.

Rauora Park

Within this strip of roomy, outdoor public spaces running five blocks alongside Manchester street, you will discover planting that won’t disappoint!

This is an area that truly started from scratch, reclaiming formerly built-up land it is now part of the East Frame vision designed to support and attract people to inner-city living.
This is a favourite zone for me to zig zag my bike through as I get excited to see planting combinations that can otherwise only be seen in books.

Drought tolerant planting in sunken beds topped with shingle

Echinops, gaura and rosemary in Rauora Park

Drifts of sedum and lamb’s-ear weave through grasses, lavender, gaura and rosemary amongst others. I skidded to a stop the day I spotted the tall thistle-like limbs of echinops and its prickly silvery blue balls. This is good stuff!

The mixed beds are broken up by runs of grasses en masse which offer lovely softness in contrast to the paved areas on either side. All these beds are sunk below ground level, covered with a layer of stones to channel rain water down and reduce risk of evaporation.

Along with the drought tolerant planting choices, there is a lot to learn here!

CTV Building Commemorative Garden

Of all the places I have mentioned, within easy wander on your way through the city, this space is special.

Landscaped and offered to the public on February 22, 2018 this garden offers a moment of peace and tranquillity in remembrance of the 115 people who lost their lives in the collapse of the CTV building caused by the 2011 earthquake.

Gently running water provides a welcome backdrop from busy Madras street with spaces to sit and take in the Port Hills beyond.

The planting is a feast for the eyes with a chorus of interesting perennials gently pushing out from their beds.

The original foundations of the building have been retained in many spots with a huge variety of fascinating ground covers creeping to meet their edges.

For new gardeners, there are valuable lessons in layers and diverse planting choices to be found here.
If nothing else, this is a magnificent example of gardens providing space and vibe in the same respect as interiors.

This article was first featured in my Stuff ‘Homed’ gardening column for beginners and The Press on February 11th 2021
All words and images are my own, shot around public spaces in Christchurch, New Zealand.