Almost every person, from childhood, has been touched by the untamed beauty of wildflowers.
Lady Bird Johnson
If you go down to the Watson Gardens at the Auckland Domain, you’re in for a big surprise.
A canvas of colour awaits.
Instead of the regular three varieties of annual plantings, the flower beds are alive with a mixture of some 30 kinds of wildflowers.
“The beds act as habitats and the mix we have planted is attracting all kind of insects, providing them a refuge,” says Jonathan Corvisy, Manager Auckland Domain.
“The insects we are trying to support are the bees and other pollinators; the wildflower provides them food in the form of nectar and pollen all in one place and is a crucial component in the sustainability of our wider environment.
As awareness of the climate crisis intensifies and the loss of biodiversity grows, the pilot planting supports Auckland Councils move towards enhancing biodiversity in the region.
“We have a clear responsibility to nurture biodiversity in Auckland and we can help do that by creating spaces where a wide range of species can thrive and flourish,” says Councillor Desley Simpson, Auckland Domain’s Chairperson.
“The aesthetics of wildflowers blooming at different heights and in an array of colours has a natural, easy beauty about them we can all enjoy.”
“Planting wildflowers has additional benefits like reducing the amount of watering, annual bedding and they produce a succession of flowerings in a season."
The wildflowers will be on show for the next 3-4 months at the Watson Gardens flowers beds at The Auckland Domain; go visit!
