Saturday 10th December, 2022
Hi
In reflection and looking forward
I think that 2022 has just raced past in this huge blur, it's like, where did all that time go? It's certainly been another year of challenges but oh so different from those years of lockdowns, click and collect and backed up/congested courier and dispatch systems. Maybe that's why the year has gone so fast, though I have to say in just such a different way.
In NZ, we all had to learn to live with covid. We all quickly knew about rapid antigen testing, and rats became the norm, rules about testing positive, household contacts and staying home from work. From Wairere's perspective our usual winter potting season was fraught with supply issues from having no plants to several weeks potting arriving all at once being more than we could cope with. Then, like all businesses, we had our own team away, on and off as we navigate these new ways. Lol, and then there was the rain.
Having said all of that, it's been an amazing year once we managed the potting and moved on and into the spring. Spring itself goes faster and faster (or maybe its just an age thing), the rate of growth always amazes me, and it can take some keeping up with, but we have now cut and trimmed the entire nursery. Really it's just like a giant garden as we have now totally dead headed all the roses, fed them so that they flush before Xmas and then will be in flower in the first 3 or 4 weeks in the new year. Then of course all the trees need lifting and more space and so on. Dealing with a living product, the maintenance is pretty constant especially to keep it all to a high standard.
What's in store for 2023? Well to start, a well earned break for us all as we can manage the nursery with a smaller team, (especially if we are all up to date) and the summer growth slows with the heat and less available water.
Then there is always a project here and on that note, have been planning more changes than just improving our software systems. We will be using our quiet times to repaint and tidy up all of the benches and tables. But way, way more exciting is that we are looking to upgrade and make more efficient our mail order and dispatch area. This will be the biggest project in our history and it's taken some planning but will be so worth it. Then a side project is to improve our stock inwards areas and perhaps a place to pot where it's not in the constant rain. Watch this space as its all planned for the quietest months of Feb and March.
Plants just in this week
Hibiscus Syriacus or Rose of Sharon. The cold hardy and deciduous Hibiscus. These flower late spring and into the summer and grown into quite the shrub. Easy to grow and look pretty when in flower.
Hibiscus Coelestrus has large single mauve flowers appear in summer and are highlighted with a red central eye. Very pretty in full flower.
Hibiscus Collie Mullens, Gorgeous tight buds open to reveal deliciously double blooms of rich lavender pink set against fresh green foliage. Flowers appear from summer through to autumn.
Hibiscus Dianna A beautiful, summer flowering, deciduous shrub perfect for those of you who love white. Tight buds unfurl to reveal large, glistening white, single blooms set against fresh green foliage.
Hibiscus Heidi, has violet blue double blooms appear from summer through to autumn. Fresh green foliage and a nice compact habit make 'Heidi' suitable for the garden or a container.
Hibiscus Paeonyflorus, A really pretty deciduous Hibiscus with tight buds that open to reveal pale pink double flowers with a red central eye.
Hibiscus Helene, Gorgeous tight buds open to reveal large, single, white blooms with a purple-red eye set against fresh green foliage. Flowers appear from summer through to autumn.
Hibiscus Jeanne D arc, You will love the sight of this gorgeous deciduous Hibiscus in full flower. The fresh green foliage is decorated with large, white, deliciously double flowers from summer through to autumn.
Hibiscus Lady Stanley, Gorgeous tight buds open to reveal semi double blooms of soft pink with attractive veining of deep wine and a strong central blotch of the same colour.
Hibiscus Snowdrift, If you want a 'Snowdrift' in summer to cool you down then this is the shrub for you. Purest white semi-double flowers set against fresh green foliage.
Portulaca love the summer and the heat and so great for amazing Summer colour just perfect for those hot spots and pots and baskets Just arrived in but with no pics up yet, is the Pizzazz series but I m sure their names will tell the story especially if you know Portulacas. If you are not familiar, Portulacas tend to be ground covery in form and with the brightest shades of flowers. Flowers are like flat buttercup in style for the want of a better expression there are masses of them smothering the entire plants. They are frost tender and so might not make it through the Winter.
Gift Ideas for those gardening friends and family
Vouchers can be purchased and redeemed online (or with the team) and are suitable anywhere in NZ as we mail order NZ wide. They are valid for one year from issue and we are happy to reissue prior to expiry.
Pots glazed, terra cotta and lite weight, sorry all pots are not available for mail order or delivery.
Bird baths glazed and also with that oceanic out of the sea look. Same deal as pots above and must be collected from the nursery.
Japanese Hoes that every one loves to use. Just make weeding a doddle, Left hand, right hand and long handled so you don't have to bend.
Flax knives always seem to get a following and rave reviews. I have never used one but I do get constant feed back in the shop.
These
wire Leaf rakes seem to be the best leaf rake that I have ever used. Look after it and use appropriately and you should get years out of it. Even had one of the team buying for for his home after using it here.
Last orders for dispatch will be this week coming being Monday the 12th of December and the final day for dispatch will be Wednesday the 14th December
We don't want to get our plant orders caught up in that last busy week with the couriers just before Christmas. So if you are think of getting anything by courier then now is the time to get your orders in and lets get them out to you! Preferably get any orders in over the weekend especially if you are in the south island so we can get them away first thing Monday.
We plan to resume mail order and dispatch Monday the 9th of January. Any orders that come in through the holiday season will be held until that Monday the 9th Jan.
We will be open all through the holiday period, normal hours of 8.30am to 5pm with the one exception of Christmas day of which we will be closed. Plants still have to be stood up, watering done, as with all things in life there is always something that needs attending to.
This is it from me and the team this year until we re-connect again in the new year, probably in February, when we will resume our emails. Huge thanks to my team that have coped with such style in a very busy season plus with all the challenges that has gone with 2022. Thank you, our very treasured clients who have supported us and continue to do so through what have been some interesting times. We all look forward to a new year full of promise, projects and excitement.
I wish all and everyone the very best holiday season, I'm sure that we all need some space just to rest and relax. Have an amazing Christmas and New year with family friends. Take care and look after yourselves.
Have a great weekend, Party season and holidays!
Cheers from Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team
