Saturday 4th June, 2022
Hi
It's all in the naming
It's all in the name, well not always but the Banksias seem to have a few species names that certainly give you a clue as to what they may be about. Let's start with the genus name and I find that Banksias were named after Sir Joseph Banks who was one of the naturalists aboard the Endeavour on James Cooks first voyage to the Pacific ocean, Joseph Banks and his colleague Daniel Solander collect many specimens of Banksias when the boat stopped at Botany bay in 1770.
First up though, Banksias belong to the protea family or Proteaceae but they also have been sub grouped into another order called grevilleoideae. I guess their flowers are more Grevillea like than say actual proteas. These Aussie wildflowers are very distinctive with their characteristic flower spikes and fruiting cones and are renown for being heavy producers of nectar.
So, in Aussie, Banksias are an important part of the nectar loving food chain, like birds, bats, other animals and insects. If you are into planting to attract birds then Banksias are a great go to along with bottle brush.
There is quite some diversity in the shrubby bush like banksias and starting with
B. ericifolia and the species name will give you this one's common name of heath leaved banksia. Fine foliage not unlike our Ericas or heaths and of course folia meaning leaves or foliage. Large golden-brown flowers in the Autumn/winter which is typical of the Banksias.
Then there is
B. blechnifolia. This one has fern like foliage and my guess has been named after the Blechnum ferns. I have seen this in a garden somewhere and have been quite taken with the foliage and its quite nice to enjoy more about a plant than just its flowers. Low growing and spreading with dusky red flowers and again typical banksia form. I have been so taken with this one that I have even put some in my garden just for the leaves and I await patiently for the flowers.
Virginia pitched in here and told me that repens means spreading or low as a ground cover (repens, creeping, prostrate and rooting repens) and so this one B. repens is another similar to Blechnifolia in foliage and form and brownish red candlestick flowers.
What about B. ornata, Virginia and I decided that this meant ornate or rather elaborate or highly decorative. I tried google but I wasn't sure if the reference was to flowers or foliage as both are cool.
B. ornata brown has caramel brown flowers and
B. ornata grey has creamy white blooms.
Banksia grandis or Bull banksia and in my head grandis means large and this one does have large toothed leaves and large greenish yellow cone shaped flowers.
Banksia Giant Candles A medium to tall shrub with exceptionally long flowers spikes up to 40cm long. Flowers are deep orange and appear from Autumn-Winter. An adaptable shrub ideal for nectar eating birds.
Banksai coccinea Deep scarlet to orange cones from flowers that appear in late winter to early summer and make a dramatic impact in gardens and as cut flowers. Prefers light, well drained soil with low nutrient level, particularly phosphates. This is an upright shrub with smooth bark and broad, tooth edged leave.
Banksia Birthday Candles This dwarf cultivar produces short golden orange candle-like flowers with reddish styles. Great in rockeries and smaller gardens, mass plant for dramatic effect or in small groups or containers on the patio, verandah or deck.
What I spied out and about in the garden centre looking fab
Crabapples are more than just crabapple jelly but deserving a place of pride in your garden. They come in many shapes forms and sizes, not to mention colour of the crabs but check out these selections I spotted on a wander.
Malus Crabapple Coronet Peak. These are high worked on 1.5 m standards to give instant effect of their weeping habit which would make for an awesome cascading feature tree in a smaller style garden. In the spring time the tree will be smothered with masses of small white flowers. In the Autumn and its still the Autumn until the shortest day arrives, they will look pretty cool with masses of small golden yellow fruits on an almost naked tree.
Malus Wrights Scarlet. I think this one is pretty cool, an upright tree with glowing red apples that stand out on a grey showery Waikato day. Spring blossoms are white. Again crabapple are a great choice for a smaller tree in smaller garden add to that but the fact they are apples and hence easily pruned to keep back in size if there is a need.
What I spied that's awesome in the garden
Symphoricarpus Mother of Pearl A medium height shrub that's valued or a must have for its marble like berries that in this case are white flushed pink. A goodie for those that do floral work or even those like me that just shove a few stems in a vase because they looks so good.
Kolkwitzia Pink Cloud.. I can really rave about this one because I have it in the garden. A medium to larger shrub that arches, but when its it flower its an eye-stopper. Stunner worthy of the common name Beauty bush. Apple blossom or bell shaped like flowers in very pretty pink.
Chaenomeles or the ornamental quinces. Their claim to fame being the simple flowers on bare stems in winter. You know the look perhaps of floral work done of an oriental look with the bare stems and the flowers speak for themselves. Or again be like me and shove some stems in a vase and call it an arrangement. There are quite a few to choose from
Yokuku being white,
Early orange - vibrant orange,
Mrs Murphy - rich red. C
lick here to see all.
All you will ever want to know about roses and more
Pruning demos and what to know about roses. Get it from the best enthusiasts of the Waikato Rose Society. They know all of the best cultivars, how to grow a rose bloom to competition standards, how to prune for the awesome results and what sprays to use and when. Whatever questions you have they will have an informed answer.
We have chosen different days and options to cover both the weekend days and also around spots on Sat and other Winter time commitments. If you are keen could you register your interest so that we have an idea of potential numbers. Keep an eye on our
facebook page for more information.
Saturday 18th June 11am - 1pm Sunday 19th June 1pm - 3pm
Saturday 2nd July 1pm - 3pm Sunday 3rd July 11am- 1pm
Thursday 7th July 11am - 1pm
Winter roses, lenten rose or Helleborus look amazing mass planted
I have a bank of the orientalis kind of Winter rose and its looking pretty cool at the minute but I bet it will look amazing when its in flower.. These are all white seedlings that we planted sometime ago but imagine what it could look like with some of the new fancy hybrids with their amazing foliage and also flowers. Note that the newer hybrids will take some more sun and a drier disposition too and suit a spot under tree like this. Don't forget that the autumn leaf drop has to be removed each year otherwise the plants get smothered.
Helleborus Illumi Lime This hellebore has a very distinctive marbled leaves. The lime green veins are striking against the dark green leaves. A mass of lime green flowers through the winter months when little else is flowering.
Helleborus Isabellas Charm This winter rose has large numbers of ruby pink flowers on upright stems which are good for cutting. Flowers fade to a deep burgundy. Foliage has an attractive marbling on leathery leaves.
Helleborus Olivias Joy New 2 Us. This hellebore range from South Africa is really special. Compact low foliage with the sweetest mid pink flowers held well aloft and outward facing flowers. Look stunning in the garden, container, planted en masse or as a table top adornment.
View the full collection
here.
Last seasons bush roses are all now $15.00, standards $25.00
Last seasons bush roses have all now been taken out of stock and reduced to just $15 to clear them out as we have now begun the potting of all the new seasons plants. Not available by mail order but rather call in and have a ferret through the plants yourself. There are still quite a few available and in good nick too though they are starting to loose their leaves.
There are also a few standards left too but again they are no longer in stock so come on out and look through them. Just $25.00
Queens Birthday weekend, these long weekend seem to roll around pretty frequently but gives everyone an extra day to do stuff in the garden or go away and see or do things with the family. We are open all weekend Monday included 8.30 to 5pm, so if you have a hankering to check out the nursery or see what last seasons roses there are on offer at $15 then come on out.
Otherwise have a great weekend and take care if you are travelling around.
Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team.
