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Friday 20th February, 2015
Does the morning dew on the ground mean that its Autumn Now
Hi
Harvest and preserve time
A couple of years ago
Anthony (
Wairere's garden designer) provided me with a pic of a box shaped pear tree and suggested that we aim to grow one in the potager, which over the last few years I have been attempting. I think that its going to take a couple more years as one side seems to be growing faster than the other two. But hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained and in the Winter when it will be all trimmed up it will look pretty cool as a feature in that garden.
The other day, when Ena and I were were working in the potager trimming the Lonicera hedge and generally tiding this garden up ready for some additional autumn plantings. Ena had eyed up and noticed that our Packhams pears are just starting to drop and suggested that perhaps she had one for her lunch LOL
I laughed and said that all those pears need picking and then lying out on paper, just like my mum used to do in the lounge when I was a wee lad, and then we will
bottle them, probably this week coming.
We have also got windfall Passionfruit so when they are all picked up I will make these into Passionfruit pulp. The summer harvest time is upon us and there is some handy information on the web under the cooking section to help you if you are wanting to do your own fruit preserves or make your own
Passionfruit syrup. Cant wait to use mine on my next
pav or over ice cream or
cheesecake.
Our garden had gotten away on us, putting it mildly..... it was a bit of a mess but hey, one decent days work and it has scrubbed up pretty well. We did the hedges and tidied up behind them and now it looks a million dollars.... pics posted on our
facebook page and have a look at the potager to see how it looks now. LOL just the rest of the garden to do probably next week.
On the more serious note of what's happening we have cut our roses back just like if we were for winter and this will produce the last flush of flowers for this year. Remember it will be 7 weeks to flowering now and that will take us to nearly the end of April, so if you want a final flush cut them all back now or with in the next couple of weeks. Feed and get some water onto them as well until the Autumn rains kick in. Its worth mentioning here that when this next flush finishes don't deadhead but rather let them form hips so that it signals to the rose that they are to rest.
A couple of sprays with shield as the new growth comes through will prevent them getting blackspot. Don't forget to spray before the rain and after the rain.
Make a mental note that Autumn is the time to re-feed your entire garden - fruit trees, shrubs and roses but I would wait until you have some decent rain to start washing it in. It is also time to get those winter veggies in as well as you want them growing now so they reach maturity in time for you to harvest them through the winter.
Sweet but without the sugar
Stevia is the plant that has leaves that are sweeter than sugar and our friend at the beach has been growing her own instead of buying it to use in her bottling. Its been great to have this feedback as I have never used Stevia myself and am learning about how to use the plant.
Just note that if you want to grow stevia that its a perennial and also deciduous so will die down in the winter.
Hey Lloyd. I've 'processed my first lot of Stevia (had picked some experimental leaves off plants and dried them. My food processor isn't strong enough to 'powder' them, but they are fine enough to use in baking cooking (providing you don't mind 'green') Apparently you can also make 'liquid' sweetener from it...watch this space. Hubby picked the 'branches' last night, have washed them and they are hanging drying now...all very exciting. I've done a lot of my bottling with bought stevia this year, and it tasted just fine...wouldn't know the difference...very pleased to be growing it...thank you!
There is some good information on the web about how to make your own
stevia extract.
A large quantities of roses will arrive here soon in June and we are taking orders for these now. Some varieties have limited numbers so if you have your heart set on a new release or just missed out last year getting the rose you want then go to the website and put your order in. This will ensure the roses you desire are allocated to you and you wont miss out.
Don't forget we have 25% off the current stocks of roses to make room for the new ones coming.
Dahlias... Dahlia plants are amazing, another example of horticultural magic. The dinner plate types can grow a full metre high in just a few months while producing blooms almost 30 cm across.
Underground, the same thing is happening. Should you decide to dig up your dahlia tubers at the end of the season, you'll be impressed with what's been happing under the soil surface. Expect to find clumps of potato-like tubers, which often can be divided into several pieces (and plants) for next year's garden.
Could your garden use a little magic? Add a few dahlias.
Dianthus... If you are looking for some summer colour for the garden right now then you cant go past Dianthus. The old fashioned 'pink' is making a comeback as a high performance romantic garden plant. Ideal in pots or as garden edging, these tough little perennials flower their socks off from earliest spring till the first frost, and produce a delicious fragrance in the garden. Grandma's pinks (aka Dianthus) were darlings in their day, but they were all done and dusted within a few short weeks. Today's pinks deliver far more than their predecessors in both fragrance, abundance of bloom and length of flowering duration. These are great as cut flowers so you can enjoy their colours and frangrance inside and out.
Feijoa's... Apollo, Manawatu and Marion are on special at $16.99 and Opal Star at $19.99. Good news for those of you in Auckland and Northland as Marion and Opal star varieties are both suitable to be grown in warmer areas, so this means you.
Hostas... we have a range of hosta grades currently on special. They range from tube lines at $5.00 each to the larger grades usually $17.99 now $12.99 and the mid grade which was $12.99 now $7.99. Hosta's look stunning planted in bulk, they are supurb at suppressing any weed growth that might think of popping up in the middle of them and they are easy to mulch over when they die back for winter.
Don't get prickly about the Berberis Helmond Pillar as these are beaut plants good size in burgundy tones with column habit. Tough, hardy and easily grown. Great landscape effect planted as accents or in a row normally $19.99 these are just half price and they look mighty fine in pots too.
Snowball tree or Viburnum Opulus Sterile... These went out the door so fast we were happy to be able to get some more in at a good price so are able to put these new plants out at the half price special as well.
Polygala Petite Butterfly... This is a little beauty, petite bushy plant with pinky purplish pea like flowers. It suits a sunny spot.... Nice and tidy in habit Normally $19.99 these just $14.99
Alternanthera Little Ruby... Stunning little groundcover that has gorgeous deep burgundy foliage. It is apparently sensitive to the frost so maybe in a cool climate treat it as an annual or keep to a warm possie. Usually $19.99 these just $14.99
Don't forget to check out all our specials available via the
Family Deals page.
Hamilton Gardens has an internationally unique concept. Its concept has been compared to a museum with each garden collection having historic integrity and providing a window into the story of civilisations, their arts, beliefs and life styles. In October 2014 Hamilton Gardens was awarded International Garden of the Year by the International Garden Tourism Network for this concept. Now open to the public the latest of the concept gardens is 'The Tudor Garden'.
Another fine weekend is on its way so make the most of this fabulous gardening weather. Autumn is my fav season as I just love the cooler mornings, evenings and stunning days. Anthony and myself were out there till 8.30pm the other evening trimming back a bank of star jasmine and limbing up weeping mulberries which all looks pretty neat now.
Whatever you have planned , have a great weekend!
Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team
Make it a Wairere weekend where even
GNOMES know that gardening's not a drag
Archived by year 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
2015 Newsletters...
We're back (8th January, 2015)
Settling In (29th January, 2015)
Summer colour (30th January, 2015)
Fabulous Feb (6th February, 2015)
Roses on sale (16th February, 2015)
..... stevia
Cheeky Climbers (6th March, 2015)
Michelias and Camellias (11th March, 2015)
Living fences (20th March, 2015)
Easter is nearly here (25th March, 2015)
Mourning the end of summer? (2nd April, 2015)
SALE NOW ON!!! (8th April, 2015)
Autumn Harvest (17th April, 2015)
What to do with all those leaves. (22nd April, 2015)
Autumn Flowers (1st May, 2015)
Sunday Mothers Day (8th May, 2015)
Colours of Autumn (15th May, 2015)
Always a project (22nd May, 2015)
Rose potting (23rd May, 2015)
Clip n Snip (4th June, 2015)
Roses Galore (14th June, 2015)
Rose Climbers (19th June, 2015)
Its Time to prune (3rd July, 2015)
Like a candy shop (11th July, 2015)
The pruning session (16th July, 2015)
Red and white stems (24th July, 2015)
Rose pruning Thur and Fri (24th July, 2015)
Winter Colour (31st July, 2015)
Time to feed (9th August, 2015)
Magnolias (20th August, 2015)
Gardeners work is never done (25th August, 2015)
Till the cows come home, or get shoooood away! (28th August, 2015)
Topiary Art (11th September, 2015)
Tosca in spring (19th September, 2015)
An extra hour (25th September, 2015)
The first Friday in October (2nd October, 2015)
Pretties Galore (9th October, 2015)
Frantic Fridays (16th October, 2015)
geraniums are in (20th October, 2015)
November events (31st October, 2015)
Movember (9th November, 2015)
Christmas is coming (20th November, 2015)
Harry was blowing in the wind (26th November, 2015)
December (3rd December, 2015)
Chilli out for Christmas (18th December, 2015)
HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email:
