From my balcony I overlook a tropical paradise – blue sea, sun and lush foliages. Plants that dominate the landscape are Palm, Aloe, Agave, bold groupings of Kalanchoe and Bromebeliads. With just a little regular pruning and deadheading these gardens have been kept most attractive. But it is not all sitting around… one of our … Read More
Concepts & Designs to spread Christmas through your home with Ray King, Shirley Russ & Freda Hunter 9.30am – 11.30am, Wednesday 12 December Templin Hall, CHS Centre, 57 Riccarton Ave CHS Office tel:(03) 366 6937 email: office@chsgardens.co.nz download the registration form here
As the leaves fall from the poplars and oaks in Hagley Park, from my office window I can now see the water of Victoria Lake glistening in the distance. Two things spring to mind. First, while the waters of Victoria Lake and the Botanic Gardens ponds are not quite sparklingly clear when viewed close-up, it is certainly good to have them filled once more. We are told it will be some time before the original wildlife returns to these newly clay-lined water bodies.
My second thought was that before too long the views from our offices in the Botanic Gardens operations centre and nursery area will change forever as we expect to embark on the carefully planned process of demolishing the old and constructing the new Botanic Gardens Centre (sometimes referred to as an Entry Pavilion).
Preserved lemons are an essential item for any kitchen cupboard. Hailing from Middle Eastern, North African and Mediterranean cuisines, you will find many uses for this intense burst of savoury citrus flavour from fish to salad dressings. If you do not already use it in your cooking, once you have a jar there is no … Read More
[one_half] SEPTEMBER: The garden springs into life and so should the gardener! The last of your green crops should be dug in now. Broad beans will start to grow rapidly soon so prepare something to support them. Plant out sprouted potatoes, an application of phostrogen will be beneficial. Seeds of silverbeet, peas, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli … Read More
August – All About Gardening With Michael Coulter It was good to see a book on New Zealand’s Native Trees was crowned New Zealand Post Book of the Year at a recent gala dinner in Auckland. Seven years work, more than 100,000 four-wheel drive kilometres and countless hours walking in dense forest paid off for … Read More