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Friday 2nd September, 2016
Hi
September 1st heralds in spring
Well officially here in NZ but hey I learnt from Cecilia the other day that apparently in Chile the equinox is the official start to spring.
September 22nd is the day or night that are of equal length and the equator is perpendicular to the sun,
so on the others side of the world will also have the same day and night length but we are on the way to summer and sadly those in the northern hemisphere are sadly on the way to another winter. It didn't make sense to Cecilia why we would start from Sept 1st but then us Kiwis probably a bit greedy and want as long a Spring as possible.
It hasn't been so wet of late so your garden should be up to speed, weeded and looking good. The buds on all the trees are all swelling and so that's a sure signal that all pruning should now almost be completed. If you haven't pruned then onto it this weekend as the plant saps will be moving quickly to open all those buds into leaves. Its great planting now too as the ground should be lovely and moist from our wet winter. I know that all will be busting a gut to get planting that veg garden but remember that its still a tad cool for some plants. Mid October or labour weekend has been the traditional time that most sensitive plants like tomatoes aubergine beans corn etc can be planted. Basil the longer you wait for that warmth the better that it will do so I suggest November or even December at the earliest.
We still have Asparagus crowns for anyone want to grow their own delicious spears and I see that Ang has kept up on the spud front, so that the range is awesome.... its time to be getting your favourite tatties either chitted or into the ground.
Kumara are another easy to grow crop so make your orders ahead of time as these plants don't keep long in store and we can email you when they are in. Be organised for when they arrive and have the bed ready for them.
My aim is to complete the hedges that we haven't finished from the winter time and to renovate some of the lower levels in office gardens. One of the gardens has become quite shaded and so now needs plants that suit being lower light levels.
I thought that I would get our garden designer Anthony on board for a consult and let him look at the overall scheme with fresh thoughts and ideas and see what we can come up with. I started a conversation about what I thought that I would like to plant ... he commented "had you thought of removing that tree" so we might take some pics and do some proper planning!
Know your Trees.... well I thought that I did!!!!@
What a coincidence that the two trees I chose to research to add to what I know both belong to the Meliacaceae family. I didn't discover this fact until I googled them both. Of course I know about both of the trees but did not realise that they were almost cousins and timber trees. The great thing about writing these emails is that it keeps me finding out facts and information too!!!
China berry tree, pride of India, Cape lilac, Persian Lilac, Indian Lilac are all common names that I have never heard but say Indian Bead tree then I know that we are talking about Melia azedarach. I guess that the common names give some clues about this hardy tree as to where its from and also its flowers which need no prize for guessing that they are lilac in colour and have some semblance in form to the shrub, the lilac. These pretty hanging panicles of lilac flowers are followed by clusters of yellow berries.
This handsome deciduous tree belongs to the Mahogany family or Meliaceace and is native to Australasia and Indomalaya and has gorgeous almost tropical like green leaves. Autumn colours are a pretty yellow before they fall leaving an attractive shaped tree. Melias are amazingly wind tolerant especially when you consider their largish leaves and so would suit quite an exposed position.
If you are timber inclined then apparently this tree is the one for you, makes sense when you now know that it belongs to the Mahogany family though I have never heard of it being used here. Maybe that's an opening for someone, experimenting growing Melias for timber properties.
Persian Lilacs can grow to quite a large tree but commonly attain a height of approx 7 to 12 metres which makes it almost, of medium height in my book so certainly something nice for a shade tree with lots going on.
Cedrela sinensis or Chinese Toon and the cultivar Flamingo and I think that all will be familiar with these and their pretty distinctive shrimp coloured foliage in the spring which incidentally you can nibble on. I was fascinated to discover that this plant also belongs to the Mahogany family Meliaceace and interestingly enough the leaves are similar in shape to Melias but have this very ornamental pink hue in the spring which matures to green.
Toons can sucker but if you train them you can create quite a narrow and upright tree which you could use as a feature in the garden. In some reading for this email, this cuzzie of the mahogany family has also been grown for its timber, useful in furniture making and for the bodies of electric guitars. I know of an enthusiast that loves to acquire obscure pieces of timber for the making of high end fountain pens... well here's an opening for growing timber for making guitars.....
Edible gardens here we come, pick the young pink leaves and shoots to munch.... have a floral oniony flavour though apparently the pink leaves are the best. Keep your Toon bush cut back and suckered so that you can harvest a crop of delectable pink leaves. Think of it like Asparagus (which can still be planted) eagerly awaited each season for that special taste. I must try some pink leaves again this year to refresh my memory...
Whats arrived and whats coming!!
Key lime, Mexican lime, bartenders Lime..... The name Key lime originates from the Florida Keys where the famous Key lime pie is made. It is said that Key Limes are preferred by bartenders and chefs due to it's strong aroma and flavour. They also have thinner skins and more juice that the other lime varieties.
Carissa Emerald Star... I saw this on a growers van the other day and being a plant that I didn't know just had to have some to try as it had such a cool leaf, (thick, leathery, lustrous and green). Its apparently tough and hardy growing wider than high and responds to be trimmed to keep tidy. The flowers are white and star shaped and followed by edible fruits... could have a whole new menu Toon leaf salad with Carissa fruits.
I have a sneaking suspicion that it may be a tad frost tender but its meant to be really tough and hardy growing in a range of soil types and full sun through to semi shade but must have good drainage.
Bulbocodium these sweet parachute shaped members of the narcissus family are heralding in spring along with the daffodils and Erlicheers. These arrive next week so if you want some then pre-order and we will let you know when they are in.
We have a good range of standard bay trees and standard Michelia Figo plants. These both make excellent accent plants, are easy to maintain and of course you get the stunning fragrance and flower with the figo and the culinary use with the bay.
Delphiniums would just have to be the queen of all perennials and surprisingly the most cold tolerant plant that you can imagine with brand new foliage capable of pushing its way through even snow. This perennial just loves a good rich position in full sun and is easily grown. Mind the slugs with the new emerging leaves as they must be just delicious.
Primulets are rushing out the door so if you are wanting these gorgeous early spring colours in your garden get your order in. Dead heading these will encourage new flowers and extend their flowering season.
Violets are awesome ground covers which are an amazing plant for weed suppression. The doubles are especially pretty and a kitchen wouldn't be the same without the usual glass on the window frame with picked violets in it.
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, I hope that you are all getting treated extra special this Sunday.
I know that we have pork Roast planned for my dad. Crackle is his favourite!
Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team
Make it a Wairere weekend where even GNOMES know that gardening's not a drag.
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2016 Newsletters...
Picnic....ing in the shade (28th January, 2016)
Wairere Newsletter 5th feb (3rd February, 2016)
To Run or Not to Run... (19th February, 2016)
Wairere Newsletter 02 Mar (1st March, 2016)
Camellia time (11th March, 2016)
Magnolia or Michelia (17th March, 2016)
Easter weekend (24th March, 2016)
HW or LW Trees (3rd April, 2016)
Evergreen Trees (13th May, 2016)
All about shrubs (20th May, 2016)
Rose Time (27th May, 2016)
Frosty Friday (3rd June, 2016)
Tiny Camellias (9th June, 2016)
Gorgeous Trees (24th June, 2016)
wet wet wet (1st July, 2016)
Burgundy foliage (8th July, 2016)
Fruit trees abound (15th July, 2016)
Fruit Tree Pruning and Flowering Cherries (21st July, 2016)
Cider apples (29th July, 2016)
August already (4th August, 2016)
wood pigeons (7th August, 2016)
Feed Time (19th August, 2016)
Magnolia's and Cider Apples (20th August, 2016)
..... its Official
Spring shrubs (7th September, 2016)
Spring Shrubs2 (7th September, 2016)
Spring Shrubs 2 (7th September, 2016)
Tricky Tasks (16th September, 2016)
climbers (23rd September, 2016)
Wairere Newsletter 23 Sep (23rd September, 2016)
Beards are in vogue (23rd September, 2016)
Gin Oclock (14th October, 2016)
????Kumaras are in (20th October, 2016)
summer is coming (27th October, 2016)
Plants for eating (2nd November, 2016)
November 11 (10th November, 2016)
Hamilton Gardens (17th November, 2016)
Xmas Trees (22nd November, 2016)
Holly (2nd December, 2016)
Xmas Brekkie (9th December, 2016)
Merry Xmas (16th December, 2016)
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