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Saturday 24th February, 2024

Hi

Wahoo, Another 10mls and its Feb
I have heard it said that we are experiencing the el Nino effect currently, and I guess with the extended high that we are currently having there hasn't been any rain on offer for a while. But hey, who believes what they say about the weather these days. (lol... I finished writing this and the misty rain actually ended up as actual rain and I think in the end we got around 10mls or more. Definitely planting time).
The season is undeniably on the move though towards Autumn as the daytime temps are still lovely and warm but not for quite as long and there is now a cool nip in the air in the evenings. I know that the dry weather has finished off my summer vege garden and its now due for an overhaul, dig some compost and fert in, and plant new vege plants again for the Autumn and Winter months. Always good to get them in early so that you can be harvesting in Winter.
Autumn really is the best time of the year for planting as the ground is still nice and warm after the summer and often there is some rain loitering around. Even if there isn't and you are doing some planting, then at this time of year the plants have a less of a requirement for water. Just make sure that you water your plantings in initially and don't be tempted to over water. It's all about observation.
I know that in the nursery, now that the days haven't been so intensely hot and the nights are so much cooler, that we have cut back the length of time the irrigation will go for and even missing a day every now and then.
How about these roses for a steal... Normally $42.99 get this selection for just $25 each .. Be cool as a bed of the same!!
Smart Choice, This rose achieved a merit award in the Palmerston North trial gardens Hybrid Tea category. It has gorgeous large fuchsia pink blooms with a lighter reverse. The bush is a medium height with a tidy compact growth habit. This rose is very showy in full bloom, ideal rose for picking.
Christchurch Remembers Winner of New Zealand’s top rose award the Gold Star of the South Pacific in the New Zealand Rose Society international trials. This is a fabulous floribunda being a bright red rose that honours those who died in the terrible Christchurch earthquake. Disease resistant healthy bushes. Bred in NZ by Rob Somerfield.

 
Kathryn Morley and Mary Rose. Here are a couple of sought after English, David Austin roses. Both are really good achievers in old fashioned style, blooms typical of the Austin roses, Kathryn Morley in pretty soft pink and Mary Rose in a deeper shade of clear pink. 
Ink Spots Mini or 45cm Std, normally 59.99, could be yours for $30
Bred by Rob Somerfield 2021. Won the Pacific Rose Bowl, 2022, three awards, including The Best NZ bred Rose and the Children's Choice awards and best floribunda for 2022. Ink Spot is covered in masses of white blooms with a burgundy centre. In full bloom, you can barely see the foliage. The compact growing plant is very healthy with glossy dark green leaves. This variety is very eye catching and looks spectacular in both bush and patio standard form. I imagine a row of 10 or more down a path could look just stunning being so easy and healthy.
Our roses are looking amazing, if I do say so myself.. Keeping them fed groomed and deadheaded certainly pays off..  There is still quite a bit of choice out there so grab a deal as they are all still 25% discounted. 

  
Camellia standards 
I think that mentioned last year that one of the best Camellia growers in NZ closed their doors for good. The quality and standard of their product was second to none and we are certainly going to miss them. Not only did they grow a fabulous range of bush Camellias, they grew what I would say are the absolute best in standards. I come from a growing background and how they got those amazing straight stems is just impressive. There must be some 6 or more years in growing these quality standards. 
Knowing that there will be no more of these, we are still in the enviable position of having quite a few of their standards ranging in not only cultivars but we also grabbed their in between years stock that would have been due for potting up and subsequent years supply to the industry.
We can offer these fabulous Camellia Standards ranging in price from those with the more well-formed heads at $214.99 to $195.00 to those still with perfect straight stems but not so large heads from $189.99 down to $129 .99 and another grade from $149.99 to $79.99.
Standards are definitely a feature plant and look great giving height to the centre of a garden or along a fence line. You could even let the heads grow together and have them give that classic pleached hedge line look.. Here are a few of the classic examples  or otherwise go on line and check the full range
   
Early pearly, Sasanqua. A very good performing Camellia that flowers from early autumn through to early winter. The blooms are double, white, with just a hint of blush pink on the outer edges.
Setsugekka, Sasanqua. One of NZ's favourite Camellias and deservedly so. An abundance of large wavy white blooms with prominent yellow stamens appear in early autumn through to early winter.  The blooms are softly scented.
Silver Column, Hybrid. Desirable for the upright slender growth habit. Small, scented, single pure white flowers with golden stamens appear from autumn through to late spring.
Yuletide, Sasanqua. This cheerful little Camellia just smothers itself in bright red single flowers from winter through to spring. The flowers are offset with prominent gold stamens. Slow growing with a compact habit.
Just arrived in. Are you looking for colour now!!!
Anemone or Japanese anemone is the common  name and for those that like to know the scientific name, being  Anemone hupehensis var japonica. The The specific epithet hupehensis, which means "from Hupeh province in China.. Its probably no surprise to know that these belong to the Buttercup family or Ranuculaceae as their flowers are very similar in form to the classic buttercup.
They don't come much hardier than these pretty anemones that flower late summer and early Autumn. Japanese anemones could probably be deemed a woodland plant as whilst they will grow in most positions and conditions they do prefer dappled light and moist rich soil type. These will quite happily naturalise an area and do look particularly stunning in full flower through into the Autumn
Just arrived in we have Snow queen that has tall spikes with clusters of single, pristine white flowers and yellow stamens and Prince Henry with similar shaped blooms in a very pretty cerise pink.

 
Eucalptus Baby blue is the small gum that is very popular for floral work... Full sun and good drainage and you could grow as a small tree or trim regularly to grow lengths  for doing your own flower arrangements.
Cassia John ball. This is a classic and I remember from when I started years ago in the garden centre trade Buttercup Tree. This evergreen shrub is a real stand out in the winter garden.  The dark green foliage is covered by a mass of bright yellow 'buttercup' blooms from autumn through winter.  Easy to grow in a sunny well drained spot preferably with some wind protection. 

 
Colenema Sunset gold. Another one from my past with its beautiful feathery golden yellow foliage. Low spreading shrub with golden aromatic foliage and tiny little star shaped flowers in palest pink that appear in late winter-spring. A versatile and easy to grow shrub that doesn't mind a trim every now and then. Likes the sun and good drainage
Sophora Dragons Gold. So, while we are on the subject of either yellow flowers or foliage. Check out this small growing Kowhai. If you want a well behaved, rewarding evergreen shrub then it would be hard to go past this delightful little Kowhai. Compact and tidy and completely covered in rich yellow bells in late winter that birds love, especially Tui and Wax-eyes. Easy to grow in sun or part shade.
Cordyline Zumba and Jive are both clump forming cabbage trees and whilst great for the garden could look equally stunning in pots.
Planning ahead
No matter what your project is, it's worth doing some planning and now is that perfect time as we move towards Autumn and then Winter and a whole new season of new stock due to come our way.  Autumn is the best time of year to do bigger planting projects as you can almost plant and forget about them. 
Our current big project that we have on is the Kahikatea restoration and we have been planning to get some planting done in a window that we have in late March, April and May and has to be done prior to our potting season that starts in June. It's kind of on the large scale and so we have to be organized and the first step is to reduce the weeds so that we can physically get in there.  We started yesterday, and once we have that sorted its timely to get in and plant the reveg Kahikateas, Pukateas trees tree and flaxes that we have ready and waiting.
It's the same for getting a hedge in or if you need to mass plant a bank or even a a major project in the garden. Get the space ready and then you are all set to go.. though I say, get going now, as the season is on the cusp. If you can't find the plants that you require in stock currently then add it to your Waitlist. If you can't see the plants that you are after on our web site then please email Jan at backorders@wairere.co.nz and we will see what we can find or obtain for you.
On that note of Waitlists, we currently are doing our best to go through them to advise if we are unable to get stock or to offer substitutes but you could help us by updating your Waitlists if your circumstances have changed or you no longer need items that may be on them. 
To go on Waitlist 
Strawberries. I know that winter seems in the distant future but that's how it works. Just putting it out there, but if you want bare root strawberry plants for Winter planting, then now is the time to order them. 10 plants per bundle and Camarosa is the name of the game. These will come and go quickly as they have a short shelf life, so waitlist yours today!
Art and design in Gordonton 
Art Exhibition in the display garden at Wairere Nursery By Anthony...  at Wairere nursery display gardens. Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of March 2024,  Hours 10am to 4pm.
Gordonton Art and Design Trail. Then there is this annual Art and design trail happening and they have set the dates to Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of April this year. Hours 10am to 4pm. This is a free event and trail maps will be available from the nursery and various other venues in Gordonton.
We are knocking on the door of another weekend...they come around so quick... whatever you have planned be sure that its actioned packed and fun. 
Have a great weekend 
Cheers from  Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team.

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Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: