CHS proudly honours this year’s award recipients, celebrating their dedication, expertise, and passion for horticulture. Canterbury Horticultural Society Kowhai Award The following individuals have been awarded the Kowhai Award in recognition of their outstanding service to the Society in a voluntary capacity. This award honours those who, through their passion for gardening and plants, have … Read More
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand By Ruben Mita $29.99, Paperback ‘A Naturalist’s Guide to the Fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand’ is an easy-to-use introductory identification guide to 267 species of New Zealand’s fungi, described at species or genus level; perfect for residents and visitors alike. High quality photographs are accompanied … Read More
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month – Japanese Maple As we head into Autumn, we have a wonderful display of weeping maples with vibrant colours of orange, purple, yellow and red. A popular Japanese Maple for … Read More
April Gardening Update Autumn in the Garden With the Equinox behind us, Autumn is in full swing. Leaves are changing colour across the city and countryside, and the garden is transitioning to cooler days. Harvest & Preserve Keep harvesting tomatoes, courgettes, and other Summer crops to preserve for Winter. Freeze them whole, or turn them … Read More
March Gardening Update Canterbury Gardens in Autumn March is ideal for harvesting fruit and vegetables. Surplus produce is common, and freezing remains the most popular preservation method—it’s quick, easy, and cost-effective. Clean, blanch, cool, dry, and pack vegetables into freezer bags before freezing. Bottling fruit and beetroot, while more time-consuming, adds colour to your pantry … Read More
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month – Bulbs Flowering bulbs bring brilliant colours to your garden from late Winter through to Summer. At Portstone, we offer a fantastic selection, including anemones, freesias, ranunculi, hyacinths, scillas, muscari, … Read More
Spanish GardensMonty Don $95 Hardback Based on his new BBC travel series, bestselling author Monty Don takes us on a personal journey through the gardens and green spaces of Spain. For over a decade, Monty Don has travelled the world, using gardens and green spaces to get under the skin of our most beloved cities … Read More
The Botanists’ Library: The most important botanical books in history By Carolyn Fry $65, Hardback Discover a vast treasure trove of botanical knowledge in The Botanist’s Library, a superbly illustrated collection of 300+ seminal books and illustrations from throughout history. From the earliest manuscripts penned by visionary naturalists to the modern tomes that continue … Read More
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month Every garden deserves a Bay Tree – the rewards are many. Bay was the ceremonial laurel the ancient Greeks and Romans who bestowed wreaths of bay as crowns for accomplished … Read More
February Gardening Update Canterbury Gardens in Summer The weather over the Christmas period was not very summer-like. Below-average temperatures, dull, cloudy days, and double the usual rainfall made gardening quite a challenge. The silver lining for me was the excellent crops of raspberries, strawberries, and blackcurrants. Tomatoes have been slow to ripen, and my stone … Read More