新西兰英语 798 Botanic Gardens celebrate 150 years（在线收听） |
Both the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and the Dunedin Botanic Gardens are celebrating 150 years this year. They were both established in 1863. This is quite amazing as the first European settlements were not until 1848 for Dunedin and 1850 for Christchurch. The Dunedin Botanic Gardens are 28 hectares, much of it on a hill and planted with more than 3,000 rhododendrons. The Christchurch Botanic Gardens are flat and 21 ha in size although they are part of the 165 ha Hagley Park. A Botanic Garden is a place for scientific research and education as well as a place for enjoyment and relaxation. A Botanic Garden has labelled plants and scientists who are interested in growing New Zealand plants as well as many plants from overseas. Many trees from other countries grow well in New Zealand with its warm days and cold nights. Christchurch has many large trees which are close to 150 years old.
There are many celebrations this year to mark 150 years. This weekend, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens are open in the early evening, after dark, with a display of lights in the trees and performances by musicians, a flame juggler and acrobats in the trees. Thousands of families came tonight with their torches and paper lanterns to enjoy the fun.
Vocabulary
?gardens – usually plural, usually no name e.g. Let’s go for a walk in the gardens.
?established – started, set up
?amazing – surprising
?settlements – groups of immigrants who came together to live in these towns
?rhododendrons – shrubs which come from the Himalayan mountains; they flower in winter and early spring
?relaxation – e.g. people sit on the grass and talk, read or sleep, or walk along the paths
?flame juggler – he throws 3 or 4 flames in the air and catches them, one after the other
?acrobats – they hang from a rope upside down and perform many skilful tricks
?torches – flashlights |
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