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Friday 2nd October, 2020
Hi
Roses are looking stunning
The roses in the nursery are just looking fantastic, if I do say so myself, they are amazing. I think they would have to be some of the best roses that I have grown in years! What's different?. Well the weather has played a large role with a late winter and early spring which has been so much drier, with not so much rain, as it's rain that enhances and promotes diseases like downy mildew and black spot.
Also a different chemical and well timed sprays around the weather patterns. I have always said to spray before the rain and again after the rain as this regime really does help prevent any problems from even getting started. A double whammy of sprays also helps knock back any infection from getting going. All these tips certainly are of benefit in the home garden situation, whether you are using a protectant spray like copper oxychloride or something slightly stronger like super shield. On that note aphids may be making a come back about now so several close sprays will help deal to these little blighters too.
We have also chosen to go down the track of having the more recent, modern roses, that have been bred to have more resistance to fungal infection in order that we can all spray less. Rob, of Glenavon roses, has a philosophy to breed high health roses that need a minimum of attention, being resistant to fungal infections and the like. I planted a few in the display garden last year and was particularly impressed with Eye candy. Rob has won numerous awards for his roses and there are many to choose from, so many in fact that we have given him his own Sommerfield category on our website. Check it out to see all the gorgeous roses that have been bred by Rob. There is a new release this season that everyone has been waiting for... "Green With Envy" and I'm sure those who don't get to buy it this season will, in fact, be green with envy as this rose is a true green and will last a very long time either on the bush or in a vase. Of course green goes with everything so mixing and matching in the garden, or for floral work, it will compliment just about anything. We have received a lot of pre orders for this rose and notification emails will be sent as soon as it is in stock, which we are hoping will be sometime next week. We do have a limited number still available for sale so if you haven't ordered yours I would advise you pop your order in, in order to be in line to purchase this gorgeous rose.
Extend your pot plant gardening skills into water
I have been mucking around with growing water lilies in pots and I am by no means an expert in this area (LOL... more used to growing plants in potting mix than water) but it is still all about foliage and flowers, to me, no matter the 
medium. The display garden has a series of round sheep troughs with yellow tropical water lilies that come up to flower every year in the late spring... and a stunning blue one, just outside Cathies office door in a sealed sandstone bowl. Last year, at the end of the season, I mange to get hold of a couple of lotus lilies, as I just adore those large leaves standing up outside of the pot, although I have yet to manage any flowers.. maybe this year!
I have always found that once the water turns green and settles down, you end up with a culture in which the water clears itself and looks mostly clean, or should I say clear? Once the waterlily puts its leaves up, they cover most of the water which, in turn, keep the sun out and the algae blooms down and then, of course, the pretty flowers arrive which are so typical to water lilies.
This is all new to us, but, we have now a series of very cool bowls that can be used as small ponds suitable for growing water lilies, or even some of the very cool, submerged plants, like pond pickerel. There are quite a few styles of pots from low shallow bowls to some that are quite large. We only offer these through the shop as we can't freight these anywhere. You can see them all online here.
Like any plants they all need feeding and we have bought tablets to do just that... I think I will give our waterlilies a birthday present and give them a tablet or two, seeing as its spring, and all the pots and gardens need feeding. Just whilst I'm on about new products, I remembered that you could add something to the water that helps promote a clear environment, so I asked the experts and they have sent me extract of barley straw. I am going to try it on my lotus lily, that I repotted and the water went green with the high N levels and lots of sun, though I'm sure that it will all settle down and come right.
Something a tad different
Tamarix Juniperina or spring Tamarisk is about to 'spring' out with pretty pink flowers and fine juniper like foliage. A tough and hardy shrub that is dry and coastal tolerant.
Ilam or deciduous azaleas these are just starting to pop right now... In my garden Nicholas Beets is just delightful with bright yellow blooms and check out Chaffinch which is new to us.
Hostas have just started to arrive in.. These are larger grade ones than we usually have. Great foliage for those dapple light situations... just remember the slug bait.
Spring events
Here's hoping the mountain shows itself for the Taranaki garden festivals due to get underway soon. A great opportunity to enjoy the countryside and perhaps check out some of the local gardens by going on one of the rambles happening in early November. There are two running simultaneously from 30th October through to 8th November which will give an amazing opportunity for anyone visiting the area to see a large number of amazing gardens. You will find more details on our Events page for both the 33rd Taranaki Garden Festival and the Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival.
Support an amazing service in the community and enjoy some beautiful gardens by purchasing tickets, $65/person, to the Franklin Hospice Garden Ramble. They have a great selection of gardens, including Jack Hobbs's, a church that will be adorned by floral arrangements and a garden that is having a market (not a 'market garden' as I posted last week). Dates are 14-15 Nov. Click this link for more info.
The Waikato Rose Society is celebrating 75 years with the Waikato Rose Society Daltons Spring Rose Show to be held at the Hamilton Garden Pavilion on 21st and 22nd of November. Book this one in to see some of the best flowers on display and you can help them celebrate.
It has been a gorgeous week here at the nursery. I look around and think how lucky it is that I both work and live in such a beautiful place. School holidays are well under way now and I imagine that many are out and about in this beautiful season and country that we all live in. The Nursery looks amazing with lush roses, and getting fuller with all the spring fluff needed to fill the spaces in the garden.
Projects are getting ticked off here. We have a new team carpark, all the plants are now inwards through the back of the nursery, which saves on those big trucks coming in the main gate. There is a new walk to the office from the carpark for the staff with some new walk bridges to help them get there mud free. Chooks have been relocated, drenched and trimmed and hopefully, soon to be, a new extension to the main garden... always a project and it's exciting... Hopefully it's the same in your garden whether it's a change or rejuvenation, its always fun!
Have a great weekend what ever the project.
Cheers from Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team
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2020 Newsletters...
Fabulous Febuary (21st February, 2020)
Watering Woes (28th February, 2020)
Orchard or Orchard (6th March, 2020)
Autumn sale time (13th March, 2020)
New Season's Camellias (20th March, 2020)
Vege Plants (27th March, 2020)
Something to try (4th April, 2020)
Lockdown dinner for my bubble (12th April, 2020)
Feijoas in abundance 1 (18th April, 2020)
Alert level 3 (25th April, 2020)
Drive through (9th May, 2020)
New Rules (15th May, 2020)
Impending roses (29th May, 2020)
Impending roses (29th May, 2020)
winter programme (6th June, 2020)
almost done (20th June, 2020)
Pruning Tech (3rd July, 2020)
In the Clouds (10th July, 2020)
Crystal ball and mags (24th July, 2020)
Chicken curry (14th August, 2020)
Big is Best (21st August, 2020)
Mouse tail plants coming (28th August, 2020)
Fluff n pretties (4th September, 2020)
Hybrid Clematis take 2 (18th September, 2020)
Those dry Places (25th September, 2020)
..... Water gardens
Balloon over Wairere (10th October, 2020)
Chilly Thursday 15/10 (16th October, 2020)
Spring has sprung (23rd October, 2020)
Kumara time (31st October, 2020)
Awesome Rain (12th November, 2020)
A pink selection of roses (16th November, 2020)
Hibiscus (22nd November, 2020)
Unexpected fruit (28th November, 2020)
Its time (5th December, 2020)
Hostas Again (12th December, 2020)
Its a wrap (19th December, 2020)
Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: