Friday 5th October, 2018
Hi
It's Harry that always mows the lawn at home, until one day he had just started and I thought to myself that I must give this a go. Now before you think to yourself 'Who can't mow a lawn for goodness sake!', I was an adolescent of the 70's and in those days kids had to help with the home chores. We didn't get pocket money for doing the chores as these were considered part and parcel of being the family. Dishes, washing, beds and lawns were all about being part of the family home... so the good old motor mower you walked/ran behind while pushing it I am well acquainted with but the ride on mower is a totally different kettle of fish.
I was duly given lessons by those in the know, with the deck on quite a high setting and a strict warning not to hit any of the tree roots that have begun to appear in the lawn. I dubiously proceeded my way around the lawns, at slower than a snails pace, while those of a higher skill level watched from inside probably saying I'm not such a natural with machinery. Its the same with the tractor, however with a bit of practice I now manage to get the sprayer attached to the back PTO (power take off), drive into the garden centre and get the roses all sprayed on quite a regular basis. To my embarrassment I don't have a great reputation on the tractor. Probably due to having gotten one stuck up to the axel in a carpark while loading scoria into a trailer. The scoria isn't that easy to get in the bucket and the wheels just kept turning while I was trying to push the bucket into the scoria to fill it. I didn't realise how far I had dug into the ground until I tried to back up and couldn't. In the end I rang Harry who was minding the shop to come retrieve the situation before my boss of the time saw my predicament. I have to say it was quite some time ago when I was a tad younger and just learning the ropes on tractor driving.
On the subject of the lawns and In my defence the grounds did get mowed albeit slowly... The corners finished off with push motor mowers and instruction for more practice and this time with the catcher on and a lower setting....... I mean what can I say!!!!
Changing the subject... the roses are starting to look mighty fine with lots of buds and the promise of flowers coming in the not too distant future. Watch our facebook page for updates on the rose varieties we have available and remember you can click any of the links placed in the posts to be taken to our website for ordering them online.
Its the season of the pretties
Spring time is just headless and chaotic for all the nursery suppliers and retailers alike. All the best growers are waiting for warm, sunny weather to kick in so that their plants grow and start to come up to flower, then they can offer us all the pretties and fluff (aka Perennials) of spring. These are the plants that add the punch to our gardens and make them look gorgeous and pretty. Plants that fill the spaces between our roses and shrubs or make our pots and tubs look pretty on decks and verandahs.
This week Ang had a huge order of pretties sorted to come in this week from one of our main suppliers. She spent much of the week clearing the tables and making space, just waiting to take the delivery on Thursday and have all on display for this coming weekend.
Obviously it has been a full on week for that supplier with too many orders to get out (not that that is a bad problem to have) so sadly they cant deliver our plants until next week as just not enough trucks to go round.
Not one to sit back Ang has already sorted this with another supplier and has taken delivery today of a whole lot of goodies to add that splash of colour that we all love.
Bacopa in blue, lilac and violet. A stunning ground cover that is a summer goodie, long flowering and perfect also for pots and positions where you want something to trail.
Geraniums and I must keep reminding myself that these are more correctly pelargoniums but us oldies still think of them as geraniums. Ange has organised a good selection here from the coloured leaved ones that look really cool, to the ones with ivy leaves that climb and then there are some of the classic window box kinds... come out and check them out or look online, superb colour range.
Petunias.. Petunias of the perennial kind are just awesome in the garden for a long and never ending show of colour... now I will own up and say that whilst these may be perennial I find that they don't like our winters but the summer through to Autumn display will more than make up for any short lived ness... and the colours that Ang has in this week are just gorgeous. Cathie tells me the ones in this selection are known as
Valentine petunias because they all have 5 hearts on each flower. That's so sweet!
Sisyrinchium Devon Skies and Snow Drift... these just tend to rock out with their cute blue and white flowers and they really suit a special little spot.
Delphiniums... I have to add these to my list again this week as they truly deserve a place in all gardens being what I would describe as some of the queens of the perennial world. Stake those long stems and protect those tasty leaves from the slugs. Cut the flowers and take inside and they will reward you with another flowering for the year. Anthony has these in his picking garden in soldier like rows next to the gladioli that were carefully transplanted from the free form garden to his now more regimented form.
Nemesias with all there colour need to be added here again as well, great colour in the garden and will come again when trimmed back after the main flush... remember to not trim to hard but rather into fresh green stems that will regenerate..
Armerias or thrift ... Oh my goodness there are so many fancy new ones of these and with stems and heads that are way bigger than those that I used to know. I have to say I have a soft spot for thrift. As a, just past teenager travelling in Wales and saw it in flowers ( the wild form) growing on all those ancient stone walls along with a myriad of other perennials.
HostasJust arrived today and a huge range of theses stunning foliage plants... they are a nice small grade priced at only $7.99 but ten or more and they will be just $7.00 each. Hosta like dapple light though some of the green and grey forms can be quite tolerant of higher light levels. They do like rich moist soil that doesn't dry out in the summer. Its not only people that like the fancy leaves that Hostas have but also those of the mollusc genus... so don't forget the snail bait. Virgina who was putting the hostas away said to me "I love them all ... I want them all". I think she is going to need a lot of pots to plant them all or get them into the villa garden. LOL
Something a tad cool and just a bit different
Curry tree as opposed to the Curry plantWe don't get these very often but do have a few in right now and that is plants of the Curry tree
Murraya Koenigii whose leaves are used by many for traditional Indian and Sri Lankan curries and the like. Now these are apparently sub tropical to tropical and will grow into a small tree if given the right growing conditions. Now I have never grown this plant before but am guessing that it will require some protection through our cool winters but will enjoy our summer temps. I'm thinking it would be a great pot plant for those that want fresh curry leaves for their curries.
There is also another plant that is called the
Curry Plant and this one is actually a Helichrysum with leaves that really smell quite strongly of curry. This is quite a cool perennial which would be a neat addition to the herb garden. It loves a sunny spot that is well drained and when you brush past it will scent the air with a quite powerful curry smell. As is typical of the Helichrysum family it will delight with tiny yellowish straw like flowers that will probably dry.
Spied this just sitting out the shop door and thought to myself that this would be something a bit different from the norm to have in our email this week. Juniperina I'm guessing because this old fashioned shrub, come small tree, has Juniper like foliage. Gorgeous in full bloom with it's unusual pink flowers.
Kumaras We have more kumara slips coming but it would pay to pre order as these will be our last on offer for this year... we will get them in the week of Labour weekend for orders and a few more to have for planting over Labour weekend. The delicate slips don't keep so please be prompt in collection and getting them into the ground. Don't forget to keep the slips moist until they strike because if the dry out they may become toast for the want of a better expression.
Asparagus crowns we still have some of these available but they are going down to o and there will be no more until next year. Again they need a dedicated bed and rich fertile soil so keep up on the compost etc.. There is nothing like the fresh taste of new seasons asparagus...
If you are wondering what of the flowering cherries are in flower at the moment, then
Shimidsu Sakura is about to pop with its very double pink in the bud but fades out to light pink and almost white as the flower opens... so pretty ..
Shirotae Mt Fuji is a double white blossom tree that is in flower at the moment.
I'll be off for another lesson on mower operation and see if I can speed up the process a bit. New skills here I come! What are you going to be learning this weekend?
Have a fabulous weekend.
Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team
Make it a Wairere weekend where even GNOMES know that gardening's not a drag.
