Friday 15th April, 2011

Camellias, Camellias and more Camellias

It's been all go here today, All the new seasons camellias have arrived. Heaps and heaps of gorgeous plants. It does take a bit of organisation to get them all away as they all have to go away in alphabetical order and the little ones can't be hidden by all the larger ones.

To grow a good Camellia for sale is quite the process and it does take a bit of time to end up with a chunky well furnished plant.  Most Camellias will start off life as a cutting with a couple of leaves left and stuck in a tray of sand for its first 6 to 9 months. There are no flowers involved in the process so the whole deal is asexual. Once the cutting has grown a few roots, it is then tipped and tubed (Nursery word for potting into a small pot called a tube). Another year later it's called a liner and it will be tipped and potted in to a small black plastic bag called a pb2. Another year on its tipped all over and potted into a larger black plastic bag. Then its left to grow to size. There may be more tipping's going on  but at some point they will be left to bud up  so that they are ready to sell in  flower. Probably at least a four year process just to grow a plant. I always look at the different sizes of the plant and have to keep reminding myself that they are all the same age.

But they are so worth it !! There would have to be a camellia to suit every spot and every purpose. They grow in all sizes and suit being hedged, standardised, espaliered or just left to grow as a shrub and lets not forget that our daily cuppa is made from yet another type of Camellia. They are generally so hardy, growing in most situations but just love some dappled light
Beautiful evergreen foliage, small flowers, big flowers, you name it the Camellia family and species seem to have the range covered. The Sasanquas have already started flowering and all the different members of the Camellia family will just about take us to mid spring with blooms.

 

NEW IN THIS WEEK

Double Grafted Citrus

Imagine growing two different varieties of orange on the same tree.  The big plus is that you have an early and then a late fruiting orange. Navelina and Harwood Late.  Then there is the lemon and Lime or an early and late Mandarin. Great for those that don't have a lot of space and want to extend the fruiting season.

Foliage with some zing, these two ground covers will help brighten up those shady corners. Vinca Illumination and Blue Sapphire, Awesome ground covers with variegated leaves, on has a yellow variegation and the other creamy white

Pachysandra terminalis Variegata. Another cream variegated groundcover that is suited to those semi shade spots, grows nice and thick and keeps the weeds out

Nandina Gulf stream and Pygmaea. A couple of good fillers for hot sunny gardens that just dont get too big, hardy as and give great foliage colour as the weather cools down

Bergenias, I have a large plant of these in my garden and I just love the large leaves, great plant for the dappled light garden as well.

This Week in our April Sale

If you cant find it to order on line then just send us an email and we'll sort it out

Heaps of great hedging deals still to be had, Camellias  from $10.00, Photinia Red Robin from $9.00, Michelia Yunnanensis from $15.00 Corokias from $10.00 and Pittosporums from $10.00

Buxus hedging from a $1.00 and lonicera from $2.00

Perennials from $2.00 and $3.00, Penstemons, Ajuga Geums and more!!!

Lemon trees, NZ Cranberries There are now more of these in at the great price of $14.00 and $11.00 respectively.

Corokia Geentys Ghost, Great bushy plants of this green grey corokia, Ideal for a dense hedge and well suited to a sunny dry area Normally $12.99 now just $10.00

Silver leaved Mondo grass. Just like the green Mondo but with dainty silver cream leaves, be stunning as a border in a shady spot or contrast against greem leaves. Normally $7.99 now just $5.99

Carex Evergold, another goodie with cream and green leaves usually $7.99 now just $5.99.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Dad came over with a Pumpkin cheesecake which was just awesome so will have to con the recipe out of him and share it next week.

Have a great Friday and the best weekend

cheers Lloyd and Harry