Friday 1st November, 2019
Hi
Its the silly season & its not just birds and bees that are getting in on the act!
There is nothing worse than seeing a baby bunny in your vege garden (I saw a cute one hopping across the path this morn) ... knowing that there are untold more, that you don't see, and the thought that they are going to enjoy all my home grown delights... Already the little blighters are eating my kale... It's not like they are short of grass out there, but hey, why eat grass where someone is growing you a banquet?
It seems to have been a bumper season for growing grass (and Bunnies) with consistent rain, without being overly wet, and quite warm temps... I think that the farmers are all fairly happy with the season so far and I guess its been great for the rabbits, with nice dry burrows, so I'm expecting a bumper crop of these furry tailed, kale munchers.
I'm still in the planting stages of the vege garden and have planned to relocate an old chook run, that was quite well made with a netting surround, as I can't bear the thought of feeding the little blighters with my next harvest.
On that note in the garden we have been replenishing all the mulch around the orchard trees with fresh shredded bark to suppress the weeds and also to keep the soil moist through the summer months. Adding the mulch layer is such a good thing to do as it enhances the soil by adding nutrients and increasing soil organism activity. Add fruit and citrus fertiliser to balance the diet and help if there is any nitrogen draw down effect. I will add that it makes it so easy to mow around and you don't get all those scruffy weeds.
Buxus Lonicera
The hedges are all romping away at the rate of knots too and we are onto the trimming of the box honeysuckle hedge (
Lonicera Nitida or
Pileata)... because you have too... the good thing about a fast growing hedge is that it's only 2 or 3 weeks before and between good and bad haircuts. Perhaps the perfect hedge to start the newbies on to get my exact eye for straight lines!
Don't rush to cut those
Buxus hedges yet though as they will still be expanding and if you cut them too soon you can bet your boots that you will be doing them again before Christmas. Wait till the growth starts to harden off, or change colour, and then you can assume that the growth flush has almost finished. Usually I aim to get all hedges done just before Christmas as the growth is usually slowed by then and all the gardens will look stunning for being put back into shape.
The
Camellias are all on a roll too, so again - just wait. My
hornbeam hedge has just leafed up too but in the next 4 to 5 weeks will expand fully with new growth and also will be cut just in time for our Christmas Brunch.
Just on the subject of hedges, I have to skite, but I do so love the hedge around Pete's cottage ...
Gay Baby is just gorgeous and why??? It's that stunning bronze, red new foliage that it flushes with at this time of the year which will change to green, that's when you know it needs cutting back.
Don't be shy at cutting hedges back to where they have been cut previously because as I tell the team, 2 cm twice a year means that your hedge will increment quite a bit over a few years.
I recently had a client show me his Kumara pics ... not everyday that I get to see kumara pics, but there you go... He was so proud of the kumara crop he managed to grow and with good reason as his kumara were just huge... they were still eating them and he was here to get plants for his next crop.
Just this morning we have had the missing Beauregard Orange (for those that like the sweeter, moist version) arrive along with some more Owairaka Reds (great for those who like the traditional version), just in time for an unusually hot weekend that the Kumara will just love, well once they are in the ground they will.
Keep the slips moist, as with any new seedling being planted, otherwise, if they dry out they may not make it.
Speaking of show and tell Cathie has posted lots of pics of the displays that the staff so enjoy creating to show off our plants in a way that may look great in your garden, check them out on our
facebook page.
Love Me Do Little Miss Perfect
Luminis Lili Marlene Pat Austin
Roses are red... pink... yellow.. white.. orange and more
Flowering right now
Even after all these years of working with roses it never ceases to amaze me at how beautiful the nursery is when they are in full flower. I know that I am biased but the place is just a picture right now with flowers everywhere. A quick walk with a camera and I have snapped a short list of names that are rocking it right now.
Best wishes is a great yellow floribunda with masses of full, yellow flowers.
Raspberry Ice is pretty cute with that cerise red edge around the outside of the petals.
Iceberg is such a reliable rose and these days comes in shade of burgundy, white and blushing pink.
Love Me Do .... such a goodie... creamy, dreamy, hybrid tea stunning fragrance and oh so healthy
Lili Marlene is an oldie, but still a great cluster flower shrub, in a decent red
Luminis crisp white blooms atop clean green foliage
Pat Austin has such an unusual blend of orange and golds.
Best Wishes Raspberry Ice Chch. Remembers Fond Memories Fellowship
So much happening around the region
These are just a few of the events available this month, you can see some info about these on our
events page or click the links to go to their web pages.
You must come out and see for yourself... there is no option and no substitute for the real pleasure of seeing so many
roses in flower all in the the one spot not to mention the
Rhodos,
Azaleas and all the
perennials but be sure to have shorts and tees on with plenty of sunscreen and wide brimmed hats as the weather man has promised a hot, hot, hot weekend and do take the extra time to have a browse around the gardens too.
Have the best weekend
Cheers
Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere Team
