This postcard purports to be of the Avon River, which does indeed run, as depicted, through Christchurch. In fact this is a postcard of a very small portion of the Botanical Gardens. The gardens lie on 62 acres, bounded on 3 sides by the Avon. They were planted in the mid 1800's and there are literally hundreds of trees the size of the two in this photo. And they are not crowded. It is as if the architect of the gardens planned it for the full size of the trees, which he wouldn't see in his lifetime. He planted trees from around the world: beeches, oaks, cypresses, redwoods, palms, kauries, liquid amber, ginkgo, eucalyptus, firs, pines and scads of others whose names are more arcane. As I wandered through it I became lost, turning wherever my fancy led me. I didn't see it all, or even see most of it. In fact I have very little concept of what parts I saw -- I just drifted in the majesty of the autumn trees. Yellow leaves were everywhere. You could rustle your feet through them like a kid (if you wanted to). Romantic couples and other loners, and even a few joggers crisscrossed, seemingly aimlessly, apparently all as lost as I. It was grand. If I ever come back to Christchurch, it will be for this garden, the likes of which I've never seen.