Gardening heritage documented

Matt Morris, currently writing a gardening heritage series for The Press, has lodged his PhD thesis on local gardening history with Christchurch City Libraries. It’s a large document (17.5Mb pdf), so if you don’t want to download it, you can read a copy at Haerenga ki Aotearoa, the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre, at the central library. Colin Amodeo’s Christchurch gardening history Wilderness to garden city offers another perspective on our passion for planting and pruning. Information on historic Christchurch gardens, including Mona Vale and Riccarton Bush can be found in the heritage section of our website.

Living 'the good life'

Sustainable living – it's a catch-cry for the 21st century. We have a suite of pages dedicated to living ‘the good life’, including recycling and waste, food and local farmers' markets.

Resource of the week

We couldn’t choose just one, so in the spirit of spring abundance, here are three resources to get you fired up and out in the garden this week.

Oxford Reference Online is one of the range of pay-for websites and databases which you can access FREE with your library card number and PIN. A few can only be accessed from within our libraries.

Oxford Reference Online provides searchable, full text access to major reference titles.

• Oxford Companion to the Garden
• A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
• A Dictionary of Plant Sciences

Online garden experience

Garden lovers might like to take a visit to Mooseys Country Garden. From somewhere on the outskirts of Christchurch, Moosey writes almost daily in her online journal about the joys and tribulations of developing a country garden, not to mention her dog, nine cats, hens and sheep. She illustrates her website with great photographs, useful gardening information and garden forums.

Gardens to visit and inspire

Alongside the Botanic Gardens, Canterbury boasts some fine private gardens which are open to the public. Ohinetahi, near Governors Bay, is a historic homestead and garden, originally the home of T.H. Potts, one of New Zealand’s earliest conservationists, and distinguished architect Miles Warren has restored and developed the garden. The Edmonds Factory Gardens on Ferry Road were created by Thomas Edmonds as part of his desire to provide a high standard of working environment for his employees. Gethsemane is a beautiful Sumner hillside garden with wonderful views. Not many gardens are home to Noah’s Ark!