Thursday 28th January, 2016
Hi
Picnic....ing in the shade
Schools are back next week and I hope that all have had a fab Christmas (seems so long ago now) and some awesome holidays. On the whole the weather has been great for those on holiday.... lately we have been hitting the 30's here in the Tron which is pretty warm combined with the humidity. But hey, its what we all look forward to, a beaut summer. There has even been regular rainfall judging from the lawns and the country side around the Waikato, there is still quite a green tinge around which hasn't been there in the previous few summers.
Hedges that I trimmed before Christmas have put on quite a lot of new growth which is not usually the norm, but its all good, just means that I get some more hedge trimming practice in and we fit three trims in for the year.
The Reunion held in the shade of Prunus Awanui trees
Its just over a year ago that Harry's Mum passed away and at the time Harry and his brother Peter suggested that a family reunion should be organised as many of the newer generation had not met each other....
A large diverse family with now many generations saw a hugely successful reunion day at our nursery and gardens. Peter had the day organised brilliantly, commencing with an informal cuppa, looking over the family tree and pics of family from past and present. Next on the Agenda was a Wairere garden tour as many had never been to the nursery and the gardens.
St Anthony's School from Huntly provided a superb lunch as a fundraiser and finally photos of all the families was last event on a formal agenda.
The day was the hottest ever in Hamilton peaking at some 30 plus degrees and all I can say is thank goodness for a pool that kept some 25 odd kids happy and their parent relaxed. But the best part is the shade that our cluster of
Prunus Awanui provided for the majority.
With over 100 at the event, seating under the two small marquees wasn't going to provide enough shade so H came up with the brain wave to have many old blankets spread under the trees. It was the best place to be, even better than under the marquees. Sitting there under the trees with lunch and a beer or three was just beaut, watching all families having fun and re-acquainting themselves with each other.
Now getting to the shade point.... its all about the trees and how brilliant they are for providing shade and dappled light over the heat of the summer months.
These trees at home just happened to be the flowering cherry Prunus Awanui but almost any flowering cherry could achieve the same effect. It was only the year before that I had crown lifted these cherries so that I could see underneath them and out to the view beyond. They were planted about 8 years ago as a cluster of 7 trees at approx 5 metres centres. At this point in time they are just touching and provide the most magnificent shaded spot in the garden where you can look back to the house or out to a view beyond.
There is another really grand tree which we planted in the middle of the garden centre and it now provides a huge central area of shade for our clients at this time of year. This claret ash (
Fraxinus Raywoodii) is a large tree being approximately 15 to 20 metres across and is soooooo cooling to be under on these warm summer days. I cant imagine being without it now!!!! ... and many a customer sits in its shade whilst an avid partner shops in the roses.
Generally any tree can provide shade and there are some classic ones that have a very flat umbrella shape. The Silk tree or
Albizia julibrissin grows like a natural umbrella and the elm tree
Ulmus horizontalis is another that fits this bill.. though both of these can grow quite large.
Generally all of the upright
flowering cherries haver a nice wide and spreading form if limbed up or I think the word should be crown lifted (the lower branches removed until the trunk / or the crown is the desired height). These are so pretty in the spring with their blossoms, create lovely green shade trees in the summer and finally have nice orange Autumn tones, then letting the Winter sunlight through. I always think of flowering cherries as being medium sized trees and therefore at least one will fit most sections. They also can be what I call feathered back to keep them smaller.
Gleditsias or honey locust and
Robinias also make for quick growing shade tree types. Both of these have quite lacy form and throw some lovely shade. Small leaves make them disappear quick in the winter.
There are heaps of large trees that will suit being in a bigger space or in fields and paddock providing shade for animals and the ground itself from the harsh sun and temps.
Plane trees,
elms,
Tulip tree,
Oaks and
Maples just to name a few.
If we don't have the trees that you are after then now is the time to order, particularly if you are after something special to line a driveway....either backorder online for July or email Rose at backorders@wairere.co.nz
Know your Geraniums from your Pelargoniums!!
Cranesbills or true
Geraniums.. What we mostly call Geraniums are in fact Pelargoniums and what I believe are true Geraniums are commonly called Cranesbill and all belong to the Geranium family. I have yet to check this out for myself but a true geranium (cranesbill) has five very similar petals that are radially symmetrical and the big name for this formation.... is actinomorphic.... whereas Pelargoniums (Geranium) have 2 upper petals which differ from the three lower petals and again, this has the important name of being Zygomorphic.
The native Geraniums must be true Geraniums because if we look at the flower structure they have also 5 similar petals all on the same plane
Geranium Rozanne is a true perennial with very pretty mauve blue colour with many flowers at this time of the year. Will cope with full sun to partial shade and will look great in any garden. Being smallish in statue at around 30 to 40cm high and around the same wide, would suit being at the front of a border or garden
Geranium Black Beauty... there is only a few of these here currently but this cultivar has attractive typical flowers but the added bonus of dark coloured foliage
Geranium Pink spice sweet pink flowers on a plant with attractive reddish evergreen foliage. These tend to spread as a carpet and could be used as a small ground cover.
Roses Roses Roses all 25% discounted
Its time to move the current seasons stock on and there is still plenty of choice. The first offer is to our Database of clients and I know that there are plenty of great roses out there. Come on out and see for yourselves or get online and order. Roses will be cut back to courier them so that they will fit into a box but these will mostly flush and flower again in 7 weeks. Still a great range of David Austins, Cimbers and moderns so be in!!!
If you are looking for specific roses then now is the time to enquire or to back order your choice for this coming Winter/ June. Just go online and make the back order or if you have problems, then email Rose (it really is her name) who looks after all these orders. We will email you by return when the stock is available.
Camellias Camellias Camellias.... selected ones 25% off!!!
Gosh two long weekends in a row looming and stunning summer weather.... what more could we all want. Spend quality time with the family, be the one to organise that family event and enjoy the occasion in your garden under the shade of trees.... such a fab way to entertain!
Have a fabulous weekend
Cheers
Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team
Make it a Wairere weekend w
here even
GNOMES know that gardening's not a drag
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