From Michael Coulter December is the start of the Summer weather and plants are now well into their rapid growth with many of the Spring-planted crops ready for harvest. Many of the pest and diseases that attack our plants will also begin to appear so we will need to take action to mitigate the damage … Read More
Where were you born and where did you spend most of your childhood? I was born in Brescia, Northern Italy, and grew up there. From the age of about twenty I was studying part time, working and later travelling from Italy to England all the way to New Zealand. Where do you live now? I … Read More
From Michael Coulter Spring weather has at last given us some rain so the top soil now has some good moisture but the sub soil is still dry, this means that we will still have to water our gardens to keep the moisture up where the plants are growing. The warmer temperatures plus humidity from … Read More
Congratulations to all our gardeners whose gardens were a real pleasure to judge this year. Click here for all the award results. (Garden pictured belongs to Ian Foster who won gold in the small garden category)
Where were you born and where did you spend most of your childhood? Born and raised in Christchurch we had a large garden in South Brighton and then again in Hawkesbury Avenue, St Albans ( now called Merivale) which backed onto a nursery which was owned by Case Jorna. At age 11 our family shifted … Read More
From Michael Coulter Spring is well and truly here. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the city is clothed in a kaleidoscope of Spring flowers of all colours and types. We are still in need of rain to get the soil moisture up to a good level for the coming growing season. I … Read More
Which country name begins with these letters? Vi Wa Ye Zi
A six acre block, once covered in gorse and scrub, has given Terry and Margaretha Graham plenty of room to garden. Every attempt has been made to use and enhance the existing land form. Judicious plantings of natives and exotics have been chosen for their form and foliage to create pleasing and interesting vistas. A … Read More
Where were you born and where did you spend most of your childhood? I was born in Balclutha, South Otago. My parents had a sheep, beef and forestry property. Where do you live now? I now live in Sumner, part-time, which has allowed me to enjoy the plant species that of area. Both the introduced … Read More
Lynley Hayes, leader of Landcare Research’s Biodiversity and Conservation team gave an information-packed address as befits this prestigious lecture in memory of MJ Barnett, one of New Zealand’s most distinguished horticulturalists and CHS Board member for 35 years. Lynley first revealed some staggering statistical facts: Since 1769 at least 25,000 exotic species have been introduced … Read More