Archery Lawn
This has been aptly named because in the 1880s, a local archery club used this lawn for archery. Situated adjacent to the Herbaceous Border, this lawn provides a delightful open space and vistas through the surrounding stately trees with the most significant being the sequoias.
Beswick's Walk
This avenue of lime or linden trees (Tilia europaea) was established in 1917 and named for Henry Joseph Beswick, a former Chairman of the Christchurch Domains Board and Mayor of Christchurch in 1896.
Beswick’s Walk is undoubtedly one of the Gardens most stunning experiences particularly throughout the autumn when the leaves of the majestic lime trees turn a bright golden-yellow and eventually graciously fall creating a golden carpet. During mid-summer when the lime trees are in full flower, their scent hangs heavily in the warm air attracting myriads of bees.
Daffodil Woodland
The Daffodil Woodland extends over two hectares on the south-west side of the Avon River in Hagley Park.
This woodland was once inhabited by a menagerie which included silk worms, deer, ferrets, kangaroos, angora and cashmere goats, opossums, monkeys, wallabies, llamas, a lemur, a tortoise, a Californian bear and an emu called Jack. This occurred between 1864 and 1930 when the Canterbury Horticultural and Acclimatisation Society leased 1.5 hectares of ground from the Domains Board. During this lease the public was able to view unusual birds, animals and fish bred for liberation throughout Canterbury or imported for public enjoyment. To many people, this popular area became known as The Zoo.
In 1933, Park Curator James McPherson, initiated the planting of daffodils among the established woodland and of oak and ash trees. In the first year, 16,000 bulbs were publically donated and planted. By 1943, 500,000 bulbs had been planted and these provide the basis of what is today one of the most popular springtime attractions in New Zealand.
Harman's Grove
This area of two hectares extends in a westerly direction from the Primula Garden and was named after Mr R.J.S.Harman, an executive committee member of the Christchurch Domains Board.
The established plantings include many fine specimens of ash (Fraxinus), hornbeam (Carpinus), oak (Quercus) and sycamore (Acer). These stately trees are much admired for the cool shade they provide in summer and their attractive autumn colours.
Murray-Aynsley Lawn
Named in honour of a former chairman of the Domains Board, Mr H.P. Murray-Aynsley, this extensive lawn area is surrounded by many notable trees including paperbark maple (
Acer griseum), handkerchief tree (
Davidia involucrata) and white mulberry (
Morus alba).
The surroundings provide a superb atmosphere for occasional outdoor musical and theatrical performances.
Pine Mound
Visitors entering the Gardens via Rolleston Avenue entrance will notice at the far end of the Armstrong lawn a fine group of maritime pines or Pinus pinaster. Elevated high on a naturally occurring sand dune, the pines create a visual impact on what is now called the Pine Mound.
Pinetum
The establishment of this collection began prior to World War II. The southern section however remained the Botanic Gardens refuse dump until 1961, when it was cleared and planted with conifers. Conifers are an attractive and economically important group of plants, the majority of which are evergreen with predominantly narrow needle like leaves.
The Pinetum has matured to include an extensive collection which includes many species and cultivars of cedar, cypress (Cupressus), fir (Abies), larch (Larix), juniper (Juniperus), pine (Pinus) and spruce (Picea).
