1912 "We have referred repeatedly to the necessity for providing more shelter trees at Caroline Bay, where they would serve both to shut out the sight of the bare cliffs, and to protect picnickers and others from (ho burning sun which, in summer, beats down upon the lawns as well as beach. " - The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1912. ARBOR DAY.TIMARU HERALD, VOLUME XCV, ISSUE 14798, 16 JULY 1912, PAGE 4

1941 "Caroline Bay: Planting 50 trees. The Council will be represented by the chairman of the Reserves Committee. Cr. Kinsman. The arrangements for treeplanting by citizens and school children are in the hands of the CarolineBay Association and North End Ratepayers’ Association." - ARBOR DAYTIMARU HERALD, VOLUME CL, ISSUE 22033, 5 AUGUST 1941, PAGE 6

"Caroline Bay Representative of the Caroline Bay Association, the North End Ratepayers’ Association and teachers and pupils of the upper standards of the Waimataltai School attended the function at Caroline Bay, where 50 trees were planted at intervals on practically the whole length of the new lawn between the beach and the promenade. The planting was carried out urder the direction of Cr. A. S. Kinsn in, chairman of the Reserves Commi’ e of the Borough Council, who addressed his remarks principally to the schoolchildren. He explained the significance of Arbor Day, the beauty and utility of trees, and urged the children to protect the trees after they were planted. Addresses were given also by Mr W Best, president of the Caroline Bay Association and Mr G. H. Andrews, president of the North End Ratepayers’ Association, who announced that the association had decided to donate £l/1/- in prizes for the best essay submitted by the pupils on Arbor Day. Mr Kinsman planted the first tree and other trees were planted by Messrs G. Bentley, an old resident, Andrews, Best and the teachers and pupils of the school."  - ARBOR DAYTIMARU HERALD, VOLUME CL, ISSUE 22035, 7 AUGUST 1941, PAGE 6

1943 “The Mayor to plant a tree in a prominent place on behalf of the citizens of Timaru. It has been suggested that this tree be planted in the centre of the lawn between the Sound Shell and hot sea water baths at CarolineBay, where a good shade tree is highly desirable." "CarolineBay: The Plagianthus Ribobnwood. a tree that does exceptionally well in the Bay.” The Reserves Committee will recommend to the Council that the Curator’s report be adopted with the exception that the committee considers it inadvisabre that any tree be planted in the open space on the Bay."  - TIMARU BOROUGH TIMARU HERALD, VOLUME CLIII, ISSUE 22611, 17 JUNE 1943, PAGE 4

1945 "On Arbor Day, arranged for September 12, it was agreed that the Society take part in the tree-planting operations on Caroline Bay in the afternoon" TIMARU BEAUTIFYING SOCIETYTIMARU HERALD, VOLUME CLVIII, ISSUE 23297, 5 SEPTEMBER 1945, PAGE 7

Above: Phoenix canariensis growing by the Tea Rooms at Caroline Bay

The species originates from The Canary Islands and its correct name is Phoenix Canariensis, the Canary Island Date Palm, they are often referred to as Pineapple palms or Phoenix palms. The palm is easily recognized through its crown of leaves and trunk characteristics.  When pruned, the bottom of the crown, also called the nut, appears to have a pineapple shape.  It grows as a large solitary palm reaching between 10–20m in height.

New Zealand's Landcare Research has classified the palm as a 'sleeper weed' - "a plant that spreads slowly and goes unnoticed until it becomes widespread”.

"Further along on the north side of the pavilion there are other recessed seats, and hardy palms have been planted on the bank above."

- PROGRESS AT BAYTIMARU HERALD, VOLUME CXLVII, ISSUE 21507, 21 NOVEMBER 1939, PAGE 6

Willows at the Willow Walk Caroline Bay

• 1890s Work to ‘improve’ Caroline Bay began. A tree-planting picnic was organised by the mayor of Timaru, J. Grandi, after a public meeting had been held to discuss how the town should mark Queen Victoria’s ‘record reign’. In the same year sections of the cliff behind the bay were lowered and cut back.
• Many hours of voluntary labour went into creating a promenade and pleasing recreational facilities. . First improvements made to the bay included the planting of pine trees at the top of the cliff to camoflague the rubbish and sewage that was being dumped near the site of the present day tearooms.
• 1897 Top soil taken from railway cutting to be spread for grassed area on bay.
• 1902 The council leased the new foreshore from the harbour board in 1902 for a European-style beach resort. The mayor offered a prize for a shceme for development and the winning entry was submitted by A J Morris.. A loan of 2500 from including 1000 publish subscriptions was raised.The willows by the Soundshell were one of the first projects for the Timaru Beautification Society.
• 1905 1000 shrubs planted on bay.
• 1907 Willow trees are planted by the local group, the Timaru Beautification Society. One of the first was to plant the Willows near the soundshell.
• 1918 Caretaker instructed to plant Willow trees along main promenade.
• 1929 Roads and paths on the Bay were sealed, a memorial seawall was built, lawn was laid. The memorial wall, which commemorated all the major battles of World War I, originally divided the sandy beach from the land on which there were lawns, gardens and paths; it is now many metres back from where the beach begins.
• 1939 The first of the Phoenix Palm (Canary Island Date Palm) were planted along on the north side of the pavilion, and on the bank above.
• 1948 A commemorative totara tree planted near the band rotunda