OMG where does the time go, School holidays are just about done and dusted, Labour weekend is looming and then the next event on everyone's mind will be Christmas. What a glorious day  it is today (Friday) and a wet weekend forecast but I have to say that it's the rainfall that makes for such beautiful gardens in the Waikato. Labour weekend traditionally signals that the ground is warm enough for those more tender vege plants though that is not always the case. But no matter what the ground temp is exactly, its perfect planting weather with warm earth and more rain on the way. Now it's always been on my mind to extend our garden properly out and around the pond, with  garden rambles happening next month and the fine help of Steve we are well on the way.  The area that we affectionately call the Chinese garden has been weeded, trimmed mulched and is getting some new plants to boot. Steve, being a bit of a lawn expert has plans to get rid of some weeds out of the lawn down there and its on the agenda to give the bridge a face lift too. Have to say that there is always a project on the go here at Wairere!!

        

I often get asked  about plants and their suitability for various positions and I have to say that there are some rules that should, or just must, be followed. Now this doesn't mean that the rules can't be bent, because we are dealing with a living thing and there are all shades of gray, so I often suggest to people to give it a go.  Sun plants are just that, they love the sun all day and every day and whilst they may grow in not so perfect a spot, they won't perform to their best. Now a thing to note is that sun plants quite often have grey foliage and a damn good example would have to be Lavender and that means all lavenders. They need full sun and good drainage and given that will perform well. Nearly (and I say nearly, because in horticulture there is almost always an exception), all annuals  and perennials are sun plants too, as are all fruits and vege. Roses are another plant that prefers the sun, liking a good 6 to 8 or more hours of the stuff.

Now shade plants are often not as showy in flower as sun plants but are quietly quite beautiful and  if you use good contrast of foliage to get spectacular effect in these shaded areas.  Now I'm personally not so keen on gold foliage but good use of such will really bring a dark area alive.  Good examples of classic shade plants are Camellias,  Rhodos, Daphnes, Winter roses and I mustn't forget Hosta's and Hydrangea's and so on. Its also quite fascinating to know that different cousins of these shade plant will like varied levels of shade. Another example, but light coloured Hostas prefer more shade, whereas the darker or more green leaved ones will tolerate more light

There are even some plants that will thrive in both... Posies and Liriopes are good examples here. If your plants are in their favoured spot then they will perform better and are so much less likely to get any bugs. 

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

Chris, who writes from her place, rang me the other day about a new tab/page we are creating for our web site and we were cracking up about the fact that it's really the season of sex, well from a horticultural point of view. LOL!!  I did take that thought one  step too far when I suggested that most plants only get it once a year and just as well I'm not a plant. I  then thought of the good ole repeating rose that manages three flowerings a season. Now I have to say that most plants do just flower the once per season so that's a really good reason to have a few rose bushes in the garden. It's also worth noting that most plants need a bit of a hand with the job whether it be bees or the wind and there are a few weird ones that get help from other bugs like slugs, snails, flies and probably a few other methods that would make our hair curl. Its probably worth noting here that there are some plants where there are separate males and females like Aucubas, Hollies(Ilex), some Viburnums and that tree with the red berries called an Idesia. Needless to say you need both sexes to get the berries and I haven't yet heard of a gay plant.... LOL.....

Flowers are all about sex and its all go at the moment, in fact there is so much happening that its almost overwhelming, the flowers that is. Fruit trees like peaches, apple, pears and plums are all in full blossom and with a little help from a bee or two will be setting fruit for the now coming harvest season. Grape and Hazelnuts and those that have male dangly bits need help from the wind to set their fruit. However they do it, it's all about producing the seed for the next generation and indirectly gives us delicious fruit, nuts and flowers that we like to grow and eat. Interestingly enough, most of the plants that we sell in the nursery are all cloned as we have an expectation of what the plant is and what it produces. We expect a Granny smith to be just that, but if we we grow a Granny smith from seed, well the resulting fruit could be quite different. Everyone seems to have an Avocado grow from seed in their back yard and I always get asked about continuing to let it grow.  Plants that are grown from seed always take a while to mature enough to start to flower ie possibily some 7 to 10 years and when you finally do get fruit it may be of  inferior quality. Best buy one that is grafted and leave the breeding to the growers.

Pots Harry got in some more end of line pots and these pictured would be just awesome for filling with water and growing a waterlily in. We have one in the garden and every year the tropical water lily that is in it come ups flowers with its pretty blue flowers that are held above its foliage, Now these pots dont have a drainage hole and are glazed on the inside as well as on the outside though I would imagine that a coat or two of a waterproof sealant would be a good security against water loss. We have an upturned pot inside of the pot and then another pot with the waterlily planted in it. A really cool water feature. There is only 4 of these and all slightly different. Collection only

          

Herbs and Kohl Rabi and mesclun
Get your cooking herbs in, though still too early for Tomatoes and Basil but Labour weekend will herald the traditional time to set all your ducks in a row for getting them in.  We have been growing our own this year and have grown a selection from Kings seeds. This is so that we can plant out our display garden, our own vege garden and have some to sell. There is a selection on the herb table of Dill, Parsley, Coriander,  French Taragon, Mesclun and Lettuce. Tomatoes, Basil, Pumpkins, Zucchini and more to come and hopefully ready for Labour weekend.

Roses are looking awesome and soon to be in bloom, The traditionalists will plant in the winter but planting a rose now is a good plan and you will find that the not as robust varieties will just romp away. The other really cool thing about getting a rose in flower is that you see and get the colour and shade that you just love.

Flowering cherries, there are still good deals on these if you are planning a drive way planting or just want a feature tree then there are plenty here to check out!  I see that the Judas trees are starting to flower and they look way cool with their pea like flowers directly attached to their stem. I feel my next email coming on as to how the Judas tree acquired its name. I must admit that I learn quite a few new things as I research different plants.

Daisies  are pretty, always in flower and are definitely sun plants. The first of these have arrived in. Great value for a plant that just flowers its head of from spring right through to Autumn. Trim to keep bushy. Dont forget that the Delphiniums are now in and there is a good range of flowering hybrid clematis.

Ilam azaleas are just stunning and their amazing vibrant flowers are just beginning to start to colour in the garden centre. They come in hot oranges, bright yellows pinks and even bricky reds. These are a semi shade plant and can get quite shrubby filling out to approx 1.5metres

          

Last weekend of the schools hols and and a long weekend coming. Hopefully its going to be fine but if the forecast wet weather comes then think how good it is for the garden. Its actually started to get quite dry out there. Ill be planning my vege garden and whats next after the Chinese garden. What ever you do , Have fun!!

Cheers, Lloyd and Harry and the team

Make it a Wairere weekend where gardening's not a drag