Harvest Your Hosta's NOT !!

Hi

 

We had our bestest friend from Aussie over last week. Cherie and her husband came over to visit her Dad for the week. They are from Sydney, Bondi no less and of course coming to visit us at the nursery lent plenty of camera shots from around the nursery and garden.  I think that there was a little competition  about what was the best shot to be had as they toddled around the garden, wine in hand, while we finished off organising the dinner. Now I won't show you any of the pie eyed pics or the ones where everyone has their necks stretched pretending that we are not really that age LOL. But I can share the cute ones of the children.

             

We are big on roast dinners as they are easy to get on while you're still working and having guests, but hey you know we are still eating all the spuds that we grew last year. Speaking of growing your own spuds, Labour weekend has crept up on us and fast. This weekend is the traditional time to start planting those vege gardens in earnest but its is still early and only just getting warm enough for those sensitive plants like tomatoes and basil. There really is nothing like fresh herbs in your cooking and you really can't go wrong in their use. Harry's latest little trick is to finely chop his choice of herb for the night and mix in with breadcrumbs that he is about to use to crumb either fish or schnitzel. A very easy and tasty thing to do.  I ve been teasing him that he is taking on Anna Leingbein again.

HOSTAS 
There is so much happening here at the moment it's hard to know what plant to write about! The maples are looking stunning with their beautiful spring foliage and the Hydrangeas have all leaved up getting ready for their late spring early summer flowering. But I love the Hostas!  Their big fat buds have just pushed out of the ground and they have just started to unfurl those gorgeous leaves. I have been putting the slug bait out as slugs and snails loves Hostas more than I do. Now  for a few google facts, but apparently, Hostas are native to North east Asia and  now belong to the family Asparagaceae having once been grouped in Lilaceae. Now that's a connection I wouldn't have made!  Having said that I  have read that Hostas are edible are called "urui"  in Japan where they are commonly consumed. I quote 'The parts eaten and the manner of preparation differ depending on the species; in some cases it is the shoots, others the leaf petiole (stalk), others the whole leaf. Younger parts are generally preferred as being more tender than older parts. The flowers are also edible.

Now the proper name of Hosta is what we all use for the common name so no lecture here.
I think that its accepted that Hostas are shade plants but they all vary in their need for shade and sun. I am going to make a gross generalisation here and the golden and light coloured ones prefer more shade whilst the darker the leaf the more sun that they can tolerate. If they are in a dry area then keep them moist with lots of organic matter.

Im not sure that I can bring myself to chop off their leaves for dinner and will probably stick to just eating Asparagus which is just devine and fresh out there right now!

           

NEW ROSES IN

Luminis  The St Johns rose,  an icy white hybrid tea

Phar lap  famously named and a deep velvety red hybrid tea
First red a high centred red hybrid tea
My sister a new patio rose  that smothers itself with fire engine red blooms

Lagerstroemias indica  Now these are the ones that grow into trees with the attractive bark. I havent had them for years and was lucky enough to get some. Choose from D'puard or Bergerac.

SPRING SALE Highlights and starts this week

Additional Spring Sale Highlights

Plums  Santa Rosa, Billington, Sultan, Elephant Heart, Hawera,  This selection all $10.00 off normally $34.99 now just $24.99

Daphne odora pink and white and Evergreen Azaleas  10 % off current  price

 

Buxus from $2.00

Camellia stds from half price

Griselinia hedging from 6.99

Raspberry plants $5.00

Topiary plants 1/2 price and at marked prices

Potted plants in antiqued pots

Magnolias and Maples selected  1/2 price

Dare I mention Christmas Shopping

Antiqued Pots, we have all these at half price, put them away for christmas presents or pot them up with herbs or potted colour!

              

Get your diary out and start planning, Melbourne would have to be one of my favourite Australian cities to visit and what better event to team it up with than the flower show

Melbourne flower Show 29th march to 01 April  A three day package in Melbourne escorted by Anthony Skinner, Wairere's acclaimed garden designer, includes accomodation transfers, breakfasts, entry to the melbourne flower show and various gardens. Full details will be available in November but you could register initial interest with Denise Fowler at denisefowler@thetravelbrokers.co.nz

                                                                        

Its the last weekend for school hols, the rugby cup finals and the traditional weekend for vege planting, Forecast is for a fine weekend so have a great three days whatever you choose to do.

 

Cheers,

Lloyd and Harry

Make it a Wairere weekend where gardenings not a drag!!!!!