Although atrocious weather conditions greeted the White Heron tour group in Whataroa, spirits could not be dampened! A quick shuffle of the programme due to river flooding meant we started the tour with the stunning Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers where we were delighted to see the green orchid in flower. By day two the … Read More
With water restrictions in force much of this months talk was again about ways of making hand watering more effective. The use of lengths of nova flow drainage pipes put in the ground near trees and shrubs that can be filled with water on permitted days will direct the water into the root zone of … Read More
There is a small cafe/health food store in Kumeu called The Green Grocer. They make a divine Rhubarb Cake. Ingredients 125g butter 1 ½ cups lightly packed brown sugar 2 eggs, lightly beaten 2 cups plain flour 1 tspn baking soda 1 cup sour cream 2 cups diced rhubarb Streusel Topping ingredients 1/4 cup sugar … Read More
Ingredients 125g butter 2 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder ½ cup chopped walnuts 1 cup coconut 2 tbspns golden syrup 1 ½ cups sugar ½ tspn vanilla ½ cup chopped dates 2 cups cornflakes 1 egg Melt 125g butter, 2 tbspns golden syrup and add beaten egg. Mix in remaining ingredients. Press into greased roasting … Read More
Ingredients 2 cups flour 2 tspn baking powder 1 ½ tspn ground mixed spice 1 cup sticky raisins 1 cup milk pumpkin seeds Sift flour into bowl. Stir in brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and spice. Remove seeds from pumpkin pieces and microwave for 5 mins until cooked but firm. Remove skin and cut into … Read More
The Canterbury Horticultural Society began with the colonisation of Canterbury in the 1850’s. It was originally called the Christchurch Agricultural, Botanical and Horticultural Society. In 1861 the group split and the Horticultural arm became the Christchurch Horticultural Society. This changed its name in 1898 to become the Canterbury Horticultural Society, which today is the largest … Read More
Each spring the first Magnolia to flower is Magnolia campbelli. It is a stately tree suitable for slightly larger gardens and well worth growing. This deciduous Himalayan species eventually grows 24 m tall with a 12 m wide crown in the right conditions and there are few this size in NZ, usually they are a … Read More
One of the most interesting and popular plants for Winter colour is Heleborus orientalis or Lenton Rose. In recent years both in New Zealand and overseas plant breeding programmes have created new and named cultures of beautiful plants. Flowering in later in winter they send upright stems up through the old leaves. The slightly nodding … Read More
Spring would not be spring without Forsythia. Forsythias grow well in almost any garden soil and are very hardy. They do need a lot of sun to ensure they flower well in spring. Each spring the Forsythia is one of the first and most colour flowering shrubs to welcome the new growing season. Its bright … Read More