Landscaping
Kia Ora!
May 2nd
Kia ora is a traditional Maori greeting that one hears often in New Zealand. Like “aloha” in the Hawaiian Islands, it may be used to say hello or goodbye or generally express good wishes. In this largest of Polynesian cities, the influences of the Maori, New Zealand’s traditional people, are woven into the fabric of daily life, but this is also a city where many diverse cultures mingle harmoniously. That diversity is clearly reflected in the staff here at the Langham, and I believe it is one of the factors that helps make the hotel’s international guests feel comfortable and assured that their needs will be understood and met.
While I will be writing a GT Tested review on my stay at The Langham Auckland in an upcoming issue of Global Traveler, I thought I’d share with you some aspects of the hotel that won’t be included in the scope of that piece. The hotel underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2006 after joining the Langham brand, following its existence as the Sheraton Auckland, and its sophisticated, elegant decor is in keeping with its status as a five-star property. It is centrally located at the crest of a hill overlooking the city close to the CBD, major retailers and the University of Auckland. Half-hourly free shuttle service provides guests a five-minute ride to and from the harbor area, which is a lively spot with plenty of restaurants, coffee shops and shopping options. On our first evening in town, our press group took a brief tour of the hotel with managing director Jeffrey van Vorsselen.
These days one hears a lot about going green and sustainability and environment-friendly practices, but the public has grown justifiably wary of those who blow their own horns too loudly in this area — “greenwashing” becoming the new term of the moment. While the Langham does feature its fleet of luxury hybrid Lexus limos, most of the hotel’s practices which have earned it Green Globe and EarthCheck certification and national and international environmental awards are quietly carried out behind the scenes. Another feature is unique to this property alone. Just off the lobby is an outdoor room containing a native tree weta habitat. Offering guests the opportunity to learn about this indigenous and ancient insect (harkening back to the dinosaur age) which serves as a recycler of the bush, the habitat takes the place of generic hotel landscaping while supporting the Langham’s environmental program and giving one a close-up look at these somewhat alarming-looking but harmless creatures. Â
Several meeting rooms and the Great Room (with a capacity of 900 for banquet seating or 1,400 theater-style) make the Langham a popular spot for conventions, meetings and special events. We also got a peek at a couple of the top-floor suites, which are several steps above the already elegant guestrooms. The Langham offers two Studio suites, which Jeffrey indicated are extremely popular with travelers who may have an extended stay in Auckland and appreciate the larger space and fully equipped kitchenette. We also checked out one of the  Chuan Spa Havens, located conveniently adjacent to the Spa and available exclusively as part of special spa experience packages. The soothing, elegant, Chinese-influenced decor and spacious bath with infinity tub clearly offer a romantic retreat of great appeal.
All these plus many other amenities and options, great dining venues and gracious, genuine service make The Langham Auckland an experience I would highly recommend to anyone visiting this part of the world.
– Patty Vanikiotis, proofreaderÂ
Roses Are Red
Apr 17th
It’s Valentine’s Day at my house. I know it’s mid-April, but this is when my Valentine’s Day roses arrive every year. In February, when most folks are scrambling for those dozen red roses from the local florist, I go online to the Antique Rose Emporium and select the rose bushes I want, my husband’s gift to me.
Doesn’t sound romantic? No surprise gift? It’s quite all right with me. My passion (besides the romantic kind for my husband) is gardening, and I’d rather have the ever-blooming, fragrant blossoms just outside my window all summer than the cut varieties that don’t last a week in the vase.
These are no ordinary roses. They are “survivors,” long-living varieties that have lasted for decades, even centuries — Antique, Earth-Kind, Pioneer and Old Garden roses. They thrive even in the harsh conditions of my yard: clay soil and little protection from cold winter winds. Incidentally, roses have been on Earth for 35 million years and have been formally cultivated for 5,000 years (first by the Chinese).
I’ve loved roses, not for 5,000 years, but for as long as I can remember. Both my grandfathers grew them in their gardens. We recently went to see Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, and I was reminded of my childhood fascination with the Red Queen’s gardeners “painting the roses red.”
But it was a trip about 10 years ago to the rose garden at Elizabeth Park in Hartford, CT, that clinched it for me. Once I saw this magnificent and magical place, I knew I had to grow roses in my own garden. (A side note: Since then, my younger son was married at the park, and my older son had his wedding photos taken there.)
The world-famous rose garden — the oldest municipally operated rose garden in the country — consists of two-and-a-half acres featuring 800 varieties of roses that amount to 15,000 plants. Rambling roses cover arched walkways in the garden — a favorite spot for photos — and the beds are filled with roses of every shape and fragrance and color. Fences of climbing and shrub roses along the border provide a colorful background for other plants.
Elizabeth Park was born from the American Park Movement of the mid-19th century, a response to what was seen as negative influences of the Industrial Revolution. People viewed urbanization as a change for the worse for American life and sought to preserve open space. The park was created on land from the Charles Pond Estate and named for his wife, Elizabeth.
It seems wherever I travel, I seek out gardens. I’ve been known to insist on a detour to a park — in Portland, Ore., I made my husband and sons spend an entire afternoon at the Rose Garden — or rush through a castle tour just to get to the splendidly secret walled garden, like the one at Bunratty Castle near Shannon, Ireland. I’ve even based my decision on where to stay on the plantings: My reasoning is that if the owners of a B&B are nurturing enough to tend a garden, they’ll also know how to tend to their guests.
The style of garden doesn’t much matter. I’ve been equally mesmerized by the intricate patterns and hedge mazes of the formal Renaissance gardens at Chateau de Villandry in the Loire Valley and the more naturalized botanical garden and arboretum at Cornell Plantation.
What does matter is that someone has taken the time to plant an artistic array of color and aroma, and I have time to, well, stop and smell the roses.
– Jan Hecht, associate editor
The Flower Show
Mar 1st
Over the weekend, I was invited by Tourism Ireland to attend the kick-off dinner and private preview of the Philadelphia Flower Show. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society heads up the event and festivities, and the show is the largest indoor flower show in the world. It is a wonderful touch of spring, particularly here in the Northeast where we have been pummeled with significant snowfall.
Countries from all over the world show off their best — Brazil, South Africa, Singapore and, of course, Ireland. Tourism Ireland had the area painstakingly planted and decorated with award-winning style. Each year there is a specific theme to the show; this year it was Passport to the World, very fitting for the readers of Global Traveler. In 1997, the theme was Ireland, which was the catalyst for stepping up Tourism Ireland’s involvement.
In attendance was Dara Calleary, minister of labour affairs, who linked the flower show to Ireland’s tourism industry. Tourism represents so much of Ireland’s job market that it is important to focus on anything like the flower show to drive travelers to Ireland. The flower show attracts the right type of individuals, who are interested in history and gardens, which are associated with Ireland, its castles and manor homes.
The Philadelphia Flower Show is deeply rooted in the 183-year history of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Over the years, members brought their plants to show other members and, eventually, to share with the public. In the 1960s, PHS took over management of the show, also encouraging participation by amateurs, individuals and garden clubs.
With the help of hundreds of volunteers, the show raises significant funds to support PHS’s community greening programs and other civic initiatives in Philadelphia. Philadelphians have more gardens than other cities because the PHS encourages open spaces to be created and turned into places to plant. Additionally, the city hosts the largest in-city park, Fairmount Park, with 9,200 acres.
– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO
Random Thoughts While Weeding
Oct 25th
This last week I finally confronted the thick clusters of grass and weeds that have taken root in my newly planted flower beds and borders. I’ve been eyeing them for some time, observing how, shortly after we’d settled the last new plant and I’d dug in over 400 spring-blooming bulbs, tiny bits of green were appearing in the rich, dark soil. I knew that plenty of native seeds had mingled with the good dirt we’d brought in to compensate for the heavy clay of our property, but I had hoped that I’d be able to spread some pre-emergent herbicide on the bare spots to prevent the invasion that was lurking. But Ma Nature was far too quick for me, and I can’t hardly blame her for trying to fill the vacuum, since she also helps all those pretty plants I want to flourish to do so.
So, I let a few weeks pass. It was either too hot or too wet, or I had too many more urgent claims on my time (or so I told myself). Although I truly enjoy gardening, I will be the first to admit that dealing with a widespread attack of weeds is not the least bit fun. So I find a few excuses, like, “It’s hard to pull those when they’re so tiny; I’ll yank them when there’s more to grasp,” or “If we get a good frost tonight, it might just kill those weeds.” Yeah, right. I think most weeds have antifreeze in their genetic make-up, and at best the tops die back while the roots dig in with greater vengeance.
Finally, though, I couldn’t let them go any longer, and so, with trowel in hand, I got down and (literally) dirty with the unwelcome guests in my garden. There are two satisfying aspects to weeding, I have found. One is that it is one of those chores which, when finished, provides one with clear evidence of the effort expended. Where once the shrubs and perennials were surrounded by thickets of vegetation threatening to strangle them, there follows a smooth expanse of clear, dark soil framing those expensive plantings. The second is that one has plenty of time for introspection and/or plain old wool-gathering, as the process of separating the evil plants from the good ones doesn’t require a very large portion of one’s focus. And so, a few things which popped into my head as I did battle with the weeds:
Why is it that it takes such an enormous effort to get grass to grow in those bare spots in the lawn, and yet it grows so easily and lushly without any help from me where I don’t want it?
I don’t care what anyone says, some weeds are called that for more than the fact that they’re growing where we don’t want them to; some of them are just plain UGLY!
I read somewhere that dandelions are not native to this part of the world, but that they were brought in by settlers for their various useful properties. Like what?!!? Sure, I’ve heard of dandelion greens and dandelion wine, but give me lettuce and grapes and please, take the *!#%* dandelions!
After two or three hours of weed-pulling, there is no comfortable position for this body to take. Squatting, kneeling, bending over — it’s all gonna hurt!
I recall that just about a year ago, I wrote about putting my garden to bed, for the last time, at our former home in Central Washington. I still miss that place a lot, but I’m so thankful to have this new garden to nurture (weeds and all), especially when, at this time last year, we weren’t sure when our house there would sell. And, as with all my previous gardens, that one taught me a little more so that I could use that knowledge as I create this new one.
It’s absolutely amazing to me how a few tiny little leaves or a short blade or two of grass can have such an extensive, branching network of roots below ground. It doesn’t seem to take long at all for those roots to burrow deep and get those unassuming topside bits established. Hmmm, might be a nice metaphor for any of us getting established in a new place. Focus on digging in, getting your support network developed, finding nourishment in your new surroundings (no sense longing for what’s no longer there or where you no longer are). It might take a season or two, but before long you’ve become a part of a new garden — and hopefully not a weed, but a productive species providing a bit of beauty to your corner of the world.
– Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader
