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Friday 2nd May, 2014
Kumara Envy !!!
Hi
Every year in the spring our neighbour very kindly brings us kumara plants to plant when he gets them for himself. Now I'm not sure whether this is really to set up the big kumara challenge, but I would have lost dismally. Firstly the puks got my plants and I'm not sure why they bother, but it's almost like they deliberately pull them out and just for fun. Moving right along I found some more plants and in they went a tad too late.
To cut to the chase, one day not so long ago, in pops the neighbour, wielding the biggest kumara I have ever seen, honestly the thing needed two hands to carry it. I didn't get it on the scales but my guess is that it would had to have weighed in around 2kg, it was just huge! I dug my kumara plants last week and whilst there was a crop underneath, I didn't have a kumara to match, there was nothing there, more like a baby potato size. Freshly dug kumaras, roasted off are just delish.
It's funny the things that you learn and quite late in life, but one night a friend of my fathers served up kumara with their skins on and I had always thought that they were a vegetable that you just peeled. But the case is kinda like spuds and there is nothing wrong with the skin especially if they are fresh just like potatoes.
Now where I am heading is, because my kumaras were small like baby potatoes, a good wash and they could be just roasted whole with similar sized hunks of my favourite pumpkin the buttercup (home grown too). I leave the skin on that too as it goes soft roasted. A few fresh spuds, several dashes of olive oil, some chopped rosemary salt and pepper and roast them all off till they are lovely and soft.
Now lately Harry has been chopping a heap of red onions in thinnish slices, length ways and softening them off in the fry pan with some olive oil, more herbs if needed, honey and balsamic vinegar. Now he had been using the stuff from the supermarket, but lately had found a more up market version which was sweeter and better quality. Now he's sold on some stuff that the lady from Waihi Beach Deli up sold him one day while we were in there getting a cappuccino. Once all the onions are soft and all deliciously caramelized, fold them through the roasted veges and serve.
Roasted peppers and zucchini are all good in here too but he roasted them separately so they won't be too wet. If I remember right, H also roasted some pumpkin seeds and pine nuts in the frying pan and sprinkled them over the top of the dish.
Mother's Day
Sunday the 11th of May is coming up fast and its a day that as Kiwi's we all spoil our mums for the day. Many go out for lunch and then come to the nursery for a wander . This year we have some fantastic plants for Mother's Day presents, including Gardenia True Love, Lavender with Love, Camellia Mother's Day and the beautiful rose, Mum in a Million. Now the Mum in a Million are here now and potted, ready to go. There is only 20 of these so if you want one for Mother's Day, be in. We will send these out next week. If you any probs ordering one then email us and we will get it sorted .
Get Your Garden Buzzing with Bees to Tea Trees
Tea tree, Manuka call it what you will, officially it's Leptospermum scoparium for the species, native version and there are many cultivars thereof. Some grow into small trees, others are semi prostrate and cascade nicely over rocks or act as a ground cover. Then there are the little ones that don't grow too big but they all have flowers that the bees just love. The pretty little flowers of Manukas are great for attracting honey bees into your garden and are also native to New Zealand. Native bees are more likely to be attracted to native flowering plants.
We have a few new manukas in this week, great plants ,such as Leptospermum Pink Cascade, which are priced at $16.99 down to $12.99 and Leptospermum Kea, which were $14.99 and are now just $10.99 each.
Peter Gordons Roasted Feijoa Chutney, now this is an awesome recipe to use those excess feijoas and flavour with a piece of tea tree. I conned dad into making it a couple of years ago and it's just to die for...
Bee Facts
Bees are pollinators for plants in the garden and will help to make your plants grow strong, healthy and flower abundantly. 75% of the food that we eat (vegetables, fruit, nuts and herbs) needs pollinators to reproduce. Bees are looking for two things in your garden, nectar and pollen. Nectar is the bees main source of sugar, and pollen provides them with protein and fat. Bees need a healthy balanced diet just like people, lol!
Flowers with single petals attract more bees than other kinds as they have more pollen for the bees to eat, and are less work to crawl across. Planting flowers in clumps in your garden will also help to attract more bees. Bees prefer sunny spots, rather than the shade, and need some protection from strong winds too. Flowers that are white, yellow, blue or purple are more attractive to bees.
Other plants that we have in this week to tempt the bees with are good ole lavender. Our Mother's Day cultivar, the latest pink one which is very pretty, Lavender With Love and a couple of classic English style ones, Foveaux Storm and Arabian Night.
All types of Rosemary are great for attracting bees and of course great for cooking, I couldn't be with out mine at the back door close to the kitchen. Any of them are great for cooking but we do have plenty of Chef's Choice which is a very good and fragrant variety.
Camellia Transnokoensis is another one that the bees love.... .and these also make for a pretty cool hedge, because they grow so columnar, there is little to to do in the way of side pruning.
New In This Week
Leucothoe Curly Red. I have never seen this little cutie before and it's an attractive little shrub with crinkly, curly glossy foliage coloured green, red and dark purple. The foliage will become lighter coloured in summer. Prefers fertile well drained soil. Plant in full sun and will even like part shade. Evergreen.
Quercus Suber. Commonly known as Cork Oak, as it has the most fabulous corky bark. The bark is just so fascinating that you just want to touch it, well plant nerds like myself do. It makes a medium sized tree, well for an Oak tree anyway, and is unique in the fact that it is evergreen. The cork oak's bark used to be the main source of cork for corking wine bottles and flooring products. LOL now we have either plastic substitutes or just a screw cap so now you can grow your own corks to bottle your own wine. Cork oaks plants $24.99 now half price.
Clivias. Remember these are pronounced Clive ias and not Cliv ias and that is probably enough said as I have written a piece on these before. These Clivias are from the range bred by Dr Keith Hammett and are in an array of shades of apricot, yellow, orange and red. Don't forget that they look pretty cool when their seeds ripen to brillant red against that glossy green foliage. An awesome plant for those awkward spots that are very dry and shady.
Osmanthus Pearly Gates. A top performing little evergreen shrub with dainty glossy green foliage and a profusion of highly fragrant little white flowers that appear in winter. Easy to grow in morning sun or dappled light, prefers acid soil if possible. Responds well to clipping which should be done after flowering.
Harry's Specials
Rosmarinmus Chefs choice. This rosemary is a culinary delight and has been especially selected for it's fantastic flavour. Lovely to grow in the herb or ornamental garden in a warm sunny spot. Pretty blue flowers that will attract bees.
Bush roses and climbing roses final call and now priced at $7.50 to clear out the last of the stock. These are good plants and fantastic value. Come on out and have a wander through and I'm sure that there will be something there to tempt those keen rose growers, no plant flowers like a rose. Be in!!!!!!
Gardenia Florida. Add some romance to your garden with this beautiful Gardenia that has very fragrant double, waxy white blooms from autumn through to summer. Glossy green foliage and an upright habit. Plant in semi-shade in nice rich acid soil. Great for planting in a pot. These are now half price at $9.99 each.
Libertia edgariae and Libertia Peregrinans. Spikey foliage that contrasts really well with other foliage types. Easy to grow in sunny to dapple light positions, both normally $13.99, now half price.
Azalea Mucronatum Alba. This is a gorgeous azalea with clusters of white very fragrant flowers in late spring to summer. Tolerant of sun, but will be happiest in dappled light. Protect from harsh frost. These were $19.99 now just $14.99 each. I have a plant of this in my garden and it's done really well and is about to be a mass of white blooms.
We've got a whole lot of smaller grade black mondo grass in this week, these are half price and a great deal at only $5 each. "Ophiopogon Black Dragon" has distinctive stiff purple-black foliage which clumps together to form little mounds that can be used as a ground cover or for creating borders in the garden. Small lilac flowers appear in summer followed by shiny black berries.
Cheers
Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team
Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team
Make it a Wairere weekend where even GNOMES know that gardening's not a drag.
Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, RD 1, Hamilton
07 824 34 30
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2014 Newsletters...
Lily of the valley 2014 (24th May, 2014)
New Year (23rd January, 2014)
Grapes dahlias and more (29th January, 2014)
Test (5th May, 2014)
Fabulous February (6th February, 2014)
Rosmarinus (14th February, 2014)
Bottlebrush (21st February, 2014)
Feijoas Feb (28th February, 2014)
Luculia (7th March, 2014)
Camellia debrief (14th March, 2014)
Autumn Planting (21st March, 2014)
Awesome Autumn Sale (21st March, 2014)
Autumn Sale update (28th March, 2014)
Roses Still to Go (4th April, 2014)
Heucheras (12th April, 2014)
Bracteata (18th April, 2014)
test 24th April (24th April, 2014)
Anzac Day (25th April, 2014)
..... Chefs Choice
Mothers Day (6th May, 2014)
Sasanquas (16th May, 2014)
and the pot goes on (13th June, 2014)
Strawberries and Daphne (13th June, 2014)
Winter Colour (3rd July, 2014)
Mid Winter (11th July, 2014)
Mid Winter (12th July, 2014)
Its time to prune!!! (18th July, 2014)
Marmalade and Witches (1st August, 2014)
Flowering Nude (5th August, 2014)
Asparagus and Spuddies (13th August, 2014)
Garden Coverings (22nd August, 2014)
Fluff and Stuff (29th August, 2014)
Officially spring (5th September, 2014)
Officially spring (5th September, 2014)
From where I sit (26th September, 2014)
October 3rd (3rd October, 2014)
leaves (5th October, 2014)
Lavender (15th October, 2014)
Its show time (31st October, 2014)
Roses are red pink yellow and more (3rd November, 2014)
Calibrachoa Surprise (13th November, 2014)
Roses In November (21st November, 2014)
Hydrangeaeous (28th November, 2014)
Peanuts (3rd December, 2014)
It's Christmas, Lets get Potty (12th December, 2014)
Its The big day (24th December, 2014)
Its The big day (24th December, 2014)
HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: