Above: 3 views of the Lawrence project. From left: 3 Dec 2007, 4 June 2008, and 29 April 2008. Bought soon after the reluctant but necessary sale of my Ferndale property it lacks the best virtues and worst drawbacks of the Ferndale property. Its positive attributes are affordability (relative to other options I looked at in Canterbury), manageable size and (hopefully) superior horticultural climate. Drawbacks include its small size (0.5ha), E & S aspect, and urban surrounds. I view it as a stepping stone to a 4 or 5ha block around Raes Junction or perhaps a larger cooperative project within 2yrs.

Left: Feb 2008. The first landscape design proposal for the Lawrence site. It's not a suitable site for large trees so I'll have to restrain my ambitions (this will be difficult - I love grand trees).

Home: Updated 7 Nov 2009.


Seasonal Notes: Launched 5 Sept 2006, from Ferndale, Lawrence & Dunedin. Updated 7 Nov 2009.



Species List: A list of species planted at Ferndale & Lawrence, including failures. Updated 9 Oct 2009.



Broadleaf Evergreens: Photos of the more successful evergreens at Ferndale and observations. Updated 20 Jan 2008.



Deciduous Trees and Shrubs A-F, G-P, and Q-Z: Photos of the more successful deciduous plants at Ferndale and observations. Updated 3 May 2008.



Conifers: Photos of the more successful conifers at Ferndale, and comments. Updated 8 May 2006.



Garden Links: Garden websites around the world. Updated 10 Sept 2008.



Weather: the homepage for 12 pages of weather observations, climate info, and photos of some notable weather events from Ferndale , Lawrence & Dunedin, updated as time permits (last update - Dunedin & Lawrence 7 Nov 2009) .



Trees of Dunedin (2 pages, Updated 28 Oct 2008), Trees in Australia, Trees in New Zealand: Trees, parks and gardens that have inspired me.



Birds: Photographs of birds observed on the Ferndale property - lots of Pukeko images. Updated 17 April 2007.



Tree Maps: An attempt to keep a record of trees planted on the Ferndale property. Launched 21 March 2006.




Collective:Thoughts on a cooperative arboretum project. Launched 14 July 2008.

My broad intention here was to transform a rather inhospitable wind tunnel into an attractive and pleasant space to live in - a forest park and bird sanctuary. Originally called "Arba Cielo" I changed the name to "Autumn Woods" for a time, thinking I should reserve the first name for future use elsewhere, but in 2007 I felt it was too late for me to embark on another tree planting project so I restored my original name choice.

After many attempts to get help with the project I finally caved in to financial pressures and sold the property in October 2007. The new owners took possession on Oct 23 and I finally departed on Dec 28 . My next project will be a 0.5ha section at Lawrence, commencing 1 Feb 2008. Hopefully that will be a stepping stone to larger purchase (ideally 4 to 10ha) in that region by 2010.

PLANT SELECTION

The species collection at Ferndale represented plant life from all over the world, both rare and common - approximately 530 species by 2007. Species selection was based on the following criteria:-

- My personal taste (my greatest horticultural passion is autumn colour).
- Historical or potential usefulness (to horticulture, forestry, industry)
- Cold tolerance.
- Ease of maintenance.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

I support the need to protect air, water and land from pollution. Maintaining areas of permanent "green space", particularly in the form of forest & preferably of the "untamed" variety, is an important step towards this goal, as is the need to halt the expansion of global human numbers and the urban areas most of us choose to live in. Arba Cielo was intended to be a permanent and largely "untamed" forest free of the grazing animals that cause much of the pollution in rural regions.

There are a few plant species in this collection that some people consider to be "environmental weeds" because they are viewed as a threat to the purity of native ecosystems. That by itself is not a good enough reason for me to destroy a plant. I am not an environmental purist, and neither is Nature - it is a force of change. Life has evolved and will continue to progress by exploring new possibilities and new combinations of existing forms. In Nature the "right" of any species to exist in any location has nothing to do with its geographic origins or rarity, but relates only to its capacity to survive. The idea that "natives" are more virtuous than "exotics" is a strictly human concept stemming most likely from nationalistic sentiments or a fear of change. The very terms "native" and "exotic" are rendered meaningless by the passage of time - everything we call "native" came here from somewhere else in the world at some point in the past.

WEED ISSUES

While "environmental weeds" are a largely a product of a particular environmental ideology there are other practical weed issues for the present and future. Gorse and to a lesser extent broom were present at the time the property was purchased and are controlled with herbicide and brushcutter in some areas. Generally it is hoped they'll be shaded out as the tree canopy develops. Many other species will self seed here in the future and for a "naturalistic forest" that is acceptable, even desirable, particularly with the native shrub species as these are destined to become a major component of the forest understorey. It is accepted that some control of self seeded plant life will always be necessary.

SITE ISSUES

Wind, cool summers, and late spring frosts are the biggest climatic obstacles on this site - many specimens are going to struggle until the shelterbelts start to become effective. While the land is topographically varied it is predominantly south facing. Springs, water courses and a stream have provided a valuable resource for both practical and aesthetic reasons. The clay soil is mostly of good quality but there are challenging areas of the "pottery" standard. Hares are a persistent nuisance, possums have been a serious problem and no doubt will be again in the future.

THE FUTURE

I like the space around my home to be somewhat on the wild side - as human numbers continue to grow and cities expand too much of the world is becoming tightly controlled. So the goal for this project is a naturalistic, very cosmopolitan forest, loaded with interest at all times of the year, and representing some of the most economically and horticulturally important cool climate tree and shrub species that Nature and human ingenuity have produced.

It is hoped this forest/park will eventually prove to be both decorative and educational, serving to promote an appreciation of natural beauty as well as highlighting those plant species that have been, are, or may be useful to human survival and prosperity. While technological change may seem to be rendering many biological products obsolete, we’d be wise to remember that civilisation is not a constancy and the future is likely to know dark ages as the past has repeatedly demonstrated. The people who rise first from the next such event will be those with access to the most knowledge and resources. Good enough reason to support parks and roadside plantings full of historically useful trees as well as libraries in every town large and small stocked with essential knowledge on paper.

Mark McLeod
5 July 2008

63d Shetland St
Wakari,
Dunedin, 9010
New Zealand

email: markmcleod@mac.com