Garden Life October

Elizabeth Wilks: CHS Avebury: A climate resilient garden

Tuesday 1 October 1pm & Wednesday 2 October 6pm

CHS is creating an ornamental garden at Avebury House, showcasing sustainable gardening practices to cope with Canterbury's projected climate change. The Avebury garden uses a blend of climate-resilient native and exotic species, featuring Fibonacci proportions and historic-inspired elements.

Mini Speakers: Ben Alder, Envirohub (Wednesday)
Jane Cowen-Harris, Friends of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens (Tuesday)

View the programme on the Garden Life Page
$5 ($10 Non-Members)

School Holiday Programme

Unleash your child’s imagination with a range of enchanting workshops

  • Creative Clay Pot Plant & Planting Fun!
  • Create your own Magical Kingdom!
  • Scented & Glitter Fragrance Making Workshop
  • Posy Jar: a Blooming Adventure of Creativity & Scent!

Choose from two morning or afternoon sessions per day
$25 ($10 off when you book 4 or more sessions) Book now

Harakeke Crafting

Embrace zero-waste craft with Toni Rowe

Kono (four corner) Basket
Sunday 22 September 10am - 12.30pm
Make a useful Kono basket and take home the knowledge and skills to craft your own practical and sustainable baskets.

Book now: $35 ($40 Non-Members)

Grow your own Cut Flowers

Sow an array of flower seeds to brighten your garden

Thursday 12 September 6.30 - 8.30pm

In this easy-going session, self-taught flower-garden enthusiast, Isabelle Weston will introduce you to growing cut flowers from seed. You’ll gain valuable knowledge on how to nurture a thriving flower garden and take home enough seeds to provide plenty of future planting and picking.

Book now: $40 ($45 Non-Members)

Veggie Seed Raising

Discover how easy it is to grow healthy vegetable plants from seed

Saturday 14 September 2 – 4pm

Perfect for beginners or anyone eager to set aside time to plant their veggie seeds this Spring! Tutored by Luke Wood you'll take home all you need to get sowing, with quality seed-raising mix and seeds from The Southern Seed Exchange and Yates.

Book now: $40 ($45 Non-Members)

Botanical Ceramics

Select your Ceramic Workshop: Create a Vase, Plate, or a Botanically Inspired Green Man Tile!

Includes all materials, glazing and kiln firing!

Botanical Vases:15 or 24 September 2024
Botanical Plates:7 or 10 November 2024
Green Man Tile:2 March 2025

$65 ($80 Non-Members) Book now

Botanical Watercolour

Immerse yourself in the art of botanical watercolours

Immerse yourself in the delicate and beautiful world of botanical watercolours under the expert guidance of renowned artist and teacher, Kay Duncan. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned painter, this workshop offers a fantastic opportunity to hone your skills and create stunning botanical artwork.

Sunday 13 October 2pm – 5pm
$105 ($135 Non-Members)

Book now

Edible Flowers

Join us for an enchanting workshop with Marion Smith from Petal & Co, the Canterbury expert in growing and supplying stunning edible flowers.

Saturday 19 October 3 – 5pm
or Tuesday 22 October 12.30 – 2.30pm
The Kiosk, Christchurch Botanic Gardens

$45 ($60 Non-Members) Book now

Canterbury Daffodil Championship Show

Beautiful blooms from local growers

Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th September 2024 10am -4pm

The Kiosk, Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Come and enjoy Spring with exquisite blooms form local daffodil growers.

Free entry
Beautiful $5 posies for sale to support the Canterbury Garden Clubs Reps

Potatoes

Potatoes

August 29, 2024

Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz     Plant of the Month Purchase certified seed potatoes. They will be free of disease and viruses and more reliable. Pre-sprouting (chitting) seed potatoes is not essential but provides stronger growth. Spread the seed … Read More

Asparagus

Asparagus

July 30, 2024

Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz     Plant of the Month If you enjoy asparagus and are lucky enough to have the space in your garden, then why not try a bed of this herbaceous perennial. Once established, the crowns … Read More

Preparing Deciduous Fruit Trees

Preparing Deciduous Fruit Trees

June 25, 2024

Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz     Get the very best from your Fruit Trees this season To ensure the health and productivity of deciduous fruit trees, it is best to prune them in winter. Follow these steps for optimal … Read More

Monthly Gardening Tips & Tasks – September 2024

Monthly Gardening Tips & Tasks – September 2024

August 29, 2024

Spring Gardening Tips in Canterbury Has Spring arrived? It certainly seems so, with some of my fruit trees already in bloom (perhaps a bit early for some), daffodils in full flower, and the grass growing steadily. All the signs point to an early start to Spring, but as we know, the weather is fickle and … Read More

Monthly Gardening Tips & Tasks – August 2024

Monthly Gardening Tips & Tasks – August 2024

July 30, 2024

Winter gardening Tips in Canterbury This month we will notice that the days are getting longer, so we hope that the weather will also begin to get warmer. July has been a month with many dull and cold days, with single-digit temperatures, so I have spent very few hours in the garden or greenhouse. I … Read More

Monthly Gardening Tips & Tasks – July 2024

Monthly Gardening Tips & Tasks – July 2024

June 25, 2024

Winter gardening Tips in Canterbury I have been busy this past month giving talks to garden clubs both in town and out in the country. What I have seen is a very dry province. June was frosty with little rain to recharge the ground with much-needed water. The garden looks very bare with little colour. … Read More

Balcony Dwellers

Embark on a journey of sustainable cultivation from the comfort of your balcony!

Get ready to transform your compact living area into a thriving haven of sustainable growth. With a focus on environmentally conscious practices, you'll cultivate your own greens, herbs and fruit, making the most of every cm of your outdoor sanctuary.

Monthly, third Saturday of the Month at Ōtakaro Orchard 10am – 12pm

$20 ($25 Non-Members) Book Now

Botanical Expo 2024

Daffodils, Spring Bulbs, Alpines, Floral Art, Bonsai Demonstrations

Rare Plant Fair plus Onsite Cafe

Saturday 21 September 1pm - 5pm
Sunday 22 September 10am - 4pm

Lincoln Event Centre | 15 Meijer Drive

$5 Entry | Kids FREE

Read more about the Expo and the CHS Spring Show

Bot Tots

Bring your little one to the Kiosk for some fun gardening and nature themed activities

Mondays 10am - 11.30am (term time only)

Join Kate Gislason, our new Bot Tots facilitator for a range of events in March.
Drop-in anytime from 10am on Mondays.

$2 koha per preschooler
Click here to find out more and to keep abreast of the ongoing programme.

Floral Design Group

Learn Ikebana with our floral designers

Fruit & Vegetable Group

Love your Edibles? Find out more about our monthly fruit and veg meetings.

Chrysanthemum Group

Learn all about Growing Chrysanthemums with this passionate CHS Member Group

Orchards in Schools

Join the Orchards in Schools whanau in 2024

This important legacy project fosters children's understanding of cultivating their own food and is a source of pride for the Society

We will be establishing new orchards from June and welcome new schools within Christchurch city.

Contact orchards@chsgardens.co.nz for application details.

Annual Membership

Members receive up to 30% off all courses and workshops and some amazing discounts from local retailers. We also have over 40 Garden Clubs and many affiliated groups to join.

Purchase a CHS membership from $60

Hessian Tote Bag

Practical & Stylish

This strong hessian tote bag is perfect for carrying plants or groceries. It features an iconic harakeke frond and was designed to commemorate the 160th Anniversary of Canterbury Horticultural Society. The last few of this limited run are now available at a discounted price.

Was $15 now $8.50
Buy now

Hemp Tea Towel

Commemorative & Beautiful

This beautiful hemp tea towel featuring an iconic manuka frond marked the 160th Anniversary of Canterbury Horticultural Society. The last few of this limited run are now available at a discounted price.

Was $30 now $18
Buy now

Visit

Find us at The Kiosk

Canterbury Horticultural Society is located in The Kiosk in the heart of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens (see a map).
Our Summer hours are 10am-4pm 7 days a week.

Check our Facebook page opposite for events and notices about what's coming up, or pop in for a chat or some gardening advice anytime.

Contact us by telephone (03) 366 6937

Or send an email to office@chsgardens.co.nz