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Friday 14th October, 2016
Hi
Gin o'clock at six
Did you want to give me a hand to paint the house Dad... well he was retired and had time on his hands. he had to stay with us of course, as Te Awamutu was a tad far to drive each day.
Originally located in Insoll avenue, that house was the first home that we moved onto the property . We were such keen gardeners even in those early days as we rotary hoed up the entire house surrounds to format the current garden.
In the very early days we supplied herb plants to local garden centres and then had an opportunity to sell old world roses and the nursery had started. Hard to believe but the garden centre was actually located 4 metres down under the current car park and I have pics to prove it.
It was around this time that the nursery needed to expand and Harry and I suggested to Pete that he may like to build on our place and so the construction of the cute miners cottage was on its way...
A Camellia hedge was planted around the cottage to give the old boy some privacy and the cutest small formal garden designed by Anthony was laid out to complete his very cosy home environment.
Before the old boy could blink twice the old nursery area was filled in to become the current car park and the area around Pete's cottage suddenly became the current garden centre.
All of our parents have helped us over the years as the nursery grew from strength to strength and Pete was no different, delivering plans to the copiers for Anthony, running chores for the nursery, doing the banking ... not to mention the stunning and delicious muffins that he made two to three times a week for the team.
Rose potting time there was daily morning teas, new recipes to try cause I didn't have time and he made awesome jams and marmalades and helped us in the art of preserving. Dog sitting, moving the cows and feeding the birds and chooks were no trouble when we were away.
So many funny times to share from when he left this thong out on the line when we were having a fancy occasion to being sprung by some intrepid clients checking out what they thought was the nursery garden only to find the old boy sunbathing au naturale.
This week we said goodbye to dad who in so many ways became such an integral part of the development and continuation of Wairere nursery. Pete was fond of the odd gin LOL and Gins at six with those closest seemed to be the best way of saying farewell. There were a few that had never had a decent gin and acquired a taste on that night!
Now Pete wouldn't want us not to continue with what we do best and so on that note ... Ill have another Gin
and if you have a Yen Ben lemon.... the perfect accompaniment next to a bearss lime......!!! Cheers to Pete!
Pot Culture and I'm not talking marjiuana
Well hopefully everyone has fed their gardens but have you done all your potted plants? Growing plants in containers is so different from those that are in the garden.... meaning that you are responsible for all the plants needs like water and food.
Now I have to say it... use nothing other than good quality potting mix in your pots. Potting mix is scientifically researched to provide the correct air space and water retention/drainage to grow fabulous plants. Don't be tempted to add compost or other materials to make it go further as this will interfere with its capabilities.
Now most quality potting mixes will come with 3 to 6 months fertiliser in them but I suggest that you feed each of your containers approx every three months with a 3 to 6 month container fertiliser so that your plants don't run out of food. If the foliage should become a lighter green than it should be normally, this means that your plant is short of nitrogen and needs a feed. Once you feed the next leaf set should come through the correct colour but sometime this can take some months particularly if we are in between growing seasons. Don't ever use those instant fertilisers in containers and pots as these will go straight into solution in the available water and potentially burn the roots and can cause your plant to die.
Growing plants is really always about constant observation and using your eyes will in nearly all cases tell you what the plants needs are and watering is no different. Its hard to say water once a week as that often in winter would be way to frequently and in the summer may not be enough. A young plant in a pot may not need as much water as say one that has been in the pot for several years. Wilting of the plant is an obvious sign but once a plant has gone this far it usually results in some leaf yellowing so its best to attend to water prior to this point.
What to grow in your pots
Anything can be grown in a container... everything in our nursery is in a pot of some sort and all the same rules apply.
Choose a plant relevant to your desired look, consider where you want to place the container and ensure you have a suitably sized container to put it in. Some of my favs are weeping maples that would need a little shade from the baking afternoon sun. Weeping maples look fantastic in bowl shaped pots but you could equally grow some of the stunning vase shaped tree cultivars in a large container too.
Shaped Buxus always look stylish and are quite tough and should be easy to keep in a pot and a twice a year trim will keep them in shape.
Citrus like mandarins, limes, lemons, and oranges have been grown in pots forever. Glossy green leaves, fragrant flowers, followed by colourful fruit are all desirable properties that make these excellent for pot culture.
Perennials like Lavender, federation daisies, nemesias will make for a colourful display through the summer months and will suit smaller containers for a sunny spot in the courtyard.
Hostas also suit growing in pots though these will need placing in dappled light or shaded areas and just remember that these are winter dormant and will totally disappear when its cold. Every year though the clump will just keep getting bigger and better.
The do's and don't's of container planting
Always choose the correct size container for your plant......don't know why the phenomena but a small plant doesn't like being potted into a very large container and often will sulk. Better to increase the container size as the plants grow and need more root space.
Don't fill your container to the top...... always leave a space relevant to the size container down from the top to act as an area to trap water for when it rains or when you water.
Every now and then over water and see the water come through the container..... this flushes excess soluble salts out of your pots.
Feed regularly and only with pot formulated fertilsers so that your plants don't ever run out of food...
If you have other plants like annuals growing around the top of a larger container, know that these will be competing for food and water.
Sitting containers in saucers of water may drown your plant by keeping them constantly too wet and no oxygen. This may be OK for something like roses in the height of growth when their water requirement is high but would drown them in the winter.
Whats arrived in this week
Hosta's A huge range of these!!! Awesome foliage followed by spires of flowers ranging from white through to mauves. Hosta's prefer rich, composted soil and moist position in dappled light and need protection from slugs and snails. Easily grown and look fab mass planted. I like them in association with winter roses which keep the space interesting when the hostas are dormant. Great value plants at $7.99 or get 10 for $7.00 each
Standard Viburnum Burkwoodii. Typical Viburnum like flowers but with a heady fragrance and these have been started as small standards. Tight pink buds open out to almost pure white flowers with a delicious scent.
Sisyrinchium Devon Skies if you love blue flowers then you will just adore this small growing perennial. grow in a well light position
Kumara.... Its time to place orders for these firm favourites..... Bundles of 25. We need to know ahead of time if you require some as they sell out quickly so get your forward order in now.
We will have the classic purple skinned Kumara and Ang has even managed to get some of the gold one this year so be in and make your orders as there will be limited numbers particularly of the gold strain.
Old fashioned Perennials
Queen Annes Lace.. A favourite for those that like cottage garden and or perennial borders. Attractive white lace like flowers
Hollyhocks... everyone's favourite, tall stems which reach around 2 to 2.5 metres with flowers all the way up the stems. a great plant for the back of the border,
Bearded Iris coming into flower now. We have dwarf, median and tall varieties. The dwarf will flower first then the median and last but not least the tall. If we don't have in stock what you are looking for then don't forget to check our Over and Above at Wairere page for the ones we don't stock but can order in for you.
Notice Board
BOP Iris show, Sunday 6th November 2016 10 am to 4 pm
Venue: Hotel Armitage ... cnr Park and Willow streets, Tauranga
Entrance $3.00
Keen on Irises then this will be the event to check out.... I don't know their secrets to getting the perfect bloom especially in this wet weather. Perhaps they use umbrellas over their plants like the rose enthusiasts.
St Josephs Garden Ramble - Sunday 6th November 2016 10 am to 4 pm
Coming up fast as October is sprinting past . There are 13 wonderful gardens and Ticket Prices at $40-00 include a cut lunch.
Gardens this year are River fringe on the East side and then out west to smaller plots and beyond to Te Kowhai / Horotiu to some pretty fantastic lifestyle gardens. Some owners will be offering home propagated plants. Our two Cafe Gardens are in Woodstock and Vintage themed, with fine china and embroidered cloths. Beautiful baking with tea and coffee to accompany.
Tickets can be purchased by emailing stjosgardenramble@clear.net.nz and bank account details will be emailed to you. Tickets are limited and are selling fast.
Waikato Rose show....... Waikato Rose society inc Rose show 2016
Hamilton Gardens Pavillion, Cobham drive, Hamilton
The Waikato Rose show is coming up fast. I thinking that with all this wet weather that there will be many an entrant covering their prize winning blooms with umbrellas this year.. If you have a hankering to see roses at their absolute best then get yourself down to this years rose show
Saturday 12/11/ 2016 12 to 5
Sunday 13 /11/2016 10 to 4.30
Adults $5.00 gold card 2.50 children under 16 free with adult
The garden centre is looking stunning and well worth a stroll around if you want to come out for just a look and off course the garden is always open too and looking fresh with spring growth. We have been out with the water blaster cleaning all the houses of that winter grime (perfect wet weather tasks lol) and sprayed all the paved areas with wet n forget so that we are going to be all tidy for the summer.
Have a great weekend and come and visit us if you have time
Cheers
Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team
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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 (2nd September, 2016)
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
????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)
HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: