Follow Burke’s Backyard travelling throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia
The cherry blossom (Sakura) is the national flower of Japan. In spring, the Japanese travel all over their country to see the wonderful displays of cherry blossom. They regard this as a time of happiness, celebration and optimism. Viewing sites in Tokyo include...
Don visited the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute – guardian of Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and the world famous Pohutu geyser. Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve This is Rotorua’s largest and best known thermal reserve and a major Maori cultural...
Maori people have long been famous for having some of the world’s most spectacular tattoos. Traditional tattoos, or Mokos as they are called, are more than just body art to the Maoris. They are personal statements about themselves, their families, their history...
Don visited Possum Pam, a Christchurch company that is making a whole range of products from Australian brushtail possum pelts. The company is the brainchild of Pam and Dave McKinstry. Pam, who describes herself as ‘a guardian of New Zealand conservation’...
While Don was driving along a street in Matamata, he spotted one of the best examples of a deciduous flowering magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) that he has ever seen. This magnificent tree was around 25m (80′) high, with an even greater spread. The owner of the...
The Kea (Nestor notabilis) is an alpine parrot that lives in the high country of the South Island of New Zealand. It is a drab, olive green colour, with bright orangey red underneath the wings. Keas are opportunistic feeders accused of scavenging off sheep carcasses,...
Ted Smyth is regarded as one of the finest garden designers in the world. He lives and builds his gardens in Auckland, and has created many outstanding gardens in his long career. Don visited the home of architect, Ron Sang, to meet Ted and see a fine example of his...
Hell’s Gate in Rotorua is New Zealand’s most active thermal reserve. It features pools of boiling mud, geysers, sulphur fumeroles, steam vents and hot geothermal waters. The Maori name for the area is Tikitere, but it became widely known as Hell’s...
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. It was first settled by Europeans in about 1815 and was established as a city nearly 150 years ago. It is internationally regarded as one of the great garden cities of the world, in fact it was voted...
Don met with Tara Atkinson-Renton, Head of the New Zealand Native Section at Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch. Tara showed Don around the Kiwi Breeding Unit (KBU), which houses three kiwis, a breeding pair and a young male named