Postcard from Christchurch...

...A Walk in Ilam Gardens

It was such a lovely day with no wind and lots of sun. I asked John if he would like a walk in the Ilam Gardens. To my surprise he said yes. We went straight after lunch and it was really lovely walk around the gardens. Last time we went two years ago there was a strong Nor-West wind blowing.

We missed most of the Blossoms and Daffodils which were passed their best. The Azaleas should be mostly out in a next week or so. We saw some ducklings and Fantail.


History on the world famous Azaleas and rhododendrons at Ilam
In 1860 Sir John Cracroft Wilson came to Christchurch from India and brought seeds of a few varieties of rhododendrons and raised seedlings. Rhododendrons growing along the drive at Strowan kindled Stead's interest in these flowers, but there were few varieties available in New Zealand. He imported some for Ilam each year and from 1918 used cool storage for importing them.

The soil at Ilam is a heavy clay which is slightly acid, and is known as Ilam pug. It is particularly suited to rhododendrons, azaleas, and other trees.

Stead began trying out layering, grafting and raising seedlings to produce larger and more brilliant flowers. He was a pioneer in using pinus radiata sawdust as a mulch for the plants.

In 1917 Stead was given seeds of the North American varieties and began experimenting with hybridising them.

In 1925 he went to England to further his knowledge of rhododendrons and azaleas and was invited to the homes of some great hybridists - Lionel de Rothschild, Lord Snow, and Gerald Loder. He was invited to judge at the Chelsea Flower Show. He was given 520 plants by de Rothschild and Loder and 490 of them were planted at Ilam. He returned to England in 1930 and again visited Lionel de Rothschild who had developed the famous Exbury hybrid azaleas. Stead was allowed to make some crosses of his best named varieties. After this the seeds were sent to him and he produced the beautiful azaleas for which Ilam is famous.
For more information on the gardens