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Saturday 16th November, 2024

Hi
Is it too early? 
Nearly half way through November and I hear the adverts on TV change to NZ's next big focus of Christmas. There are murmurs all around me of the intent to dust of the Christmas tree, or that could be plural trees, find all those fancy baubles and get decorating. Or if you prefer a live tree, perhaps you're wondering whether or not it's time to bring it inside? To me it seems early as the beginning of December used to the the time to get into the Christmas vibe, but it IS happening right now. I do know that Tony is hankering to get his tree up and decorated, not too mention the new ones that he acquired with the help of a friend. 
So, if you are one of those that have your tree up already, fabulous and I imagine that you will want to have the garden all tickety-boo for a champagne brunch, lunch or evening dinner as I always do. It's just under 6 weeks until the big day and it may be borderline timing if you want to cut your roses back to bloom for the day. I usually work on 7 weeks, and at this fast growth time of year 6 weeks maybe be fine or your roses will be just about to flush, full in bud and just showing colour. Of course you could just leave them and dead head, but probably no flowers for Xmas day! But again, they will be in flower 7 weeks from when you do cut them back.
The same goes for Perennials like Daisys and Lavender of the Spanish kind. They should have flowers for the day already, but if looking tired will take approx. 6 weeks from a good haircut to re-flush so if that's your plan, get onto it this weekend as otherwise: what will be, will be. 

 
I think that it's too early to start on any Hedges and the team and I decided that we were going to wait another couple of weeks to see how the foliage flush is going for us here in the nursery. Usually I wait until the new leaves start to change to their normal or darker colour because too early will mean that you do the job twice. That said, I imagine each trim will be pretty easy to do, so maybe twice is better. Sometimes it does mean a mad dash to get the garden ready just before Christmas because those weeks at this time of year just hoon past.
Lastly, it's worth noting that the summer grasses and weeds are really starting to perform and it's easier to tackle these than to let them get established. A push hoe on a really hot and sunny day will deal to them fast and efficiently, provided you get under the foliage and cut those roots. Otherwise, I use round up on the  more perennial of weeds but note that this will translocate through any green foliage, including that on your favourite plants, so be careful in its use. Finally, Weed weapon is an organic herbicide and its action is that of a desiccant, so really good on weed seedlings and perhaps not so good on those that have tenacious root systems.
Watering hasn't been needed as such in the garden as it's been a pretty perfect growing season so far, and the 20 mls of precipitation we had the other day also helped. Having said that, if it stays this dry then some watering going into December may be needed and pots and the like may need water every other day if not daily. We are watering the nursery around every other day in the absence of any real rain as you will realize it is all in pots.
Lavender of the English kind 
The English lavender would have to be my favourite kind. In Latin speak, known as Lavandula angustifolia, and there will be heaps of crosses and cultivars due to the fact that it is a fairly promiscuous group of plants. Lavender angustifolia is its own species but, for an example, lavender Grosso is a hybrid being a cross between angustifolia and another species called latifolia. If you ask me they are pretty hard to tell apart as there isn't too much difference between the foliage and form, although there will be subtle differences in form, stem height, foliage and flower colour.
I love English lavender for its grey foliage and the beautiful mauve to purple flowers on tall stems that are so suited for picking and or drying. The flowers last ages on the plant and if looked after the plants perform for a long time in the garden. English lavender are the kind that can be used in cooking, making lavender sachets, pot pouri and some varieties like Grosso are used for the production of essential oils. They look gorgeous in the garden, especially planted en masse and hedge-like and these species do have a long shelf life if they are looked after with good pruning etc.

 
Some grow larger than other and have taller flower spike like Arabian Night, Grosso and Super. Then there some that are mid-range in height e.g. Pacific Blue, Hidcote Blue and Foveaux Storm. Munstead and Azure Leigh are examples of some that are quite small-growing.
The bottom line with Lavenders is that they love the sun and good sharp drainage. I'm sure that you will have seen pics of lavender farms where the plants are rowed on a north facing slope and look just gorgeous in flower.


This lavender pictured is Foveaux storm, but we have heaps of different cultivars in stock right now.


Recently arrived 
Daisy time. Argyranthemum frutescens is a name that I can't quite get my tongue around and also, is not so many know. Hence a break from the rules and we have listed the many varieties of this plant as just 'daisy' on our web site. There are several series these days and most will be familiar with the Federation daisies which flower profusely all season. Again, give them full sun and good soil and they will fill spots in the garden and flower all summer. Check them out online but here are a few teasers like Barbie, Coral, Purity, Sugar and Ice  and there are way more.

 
Brachyscome are cool and these are almost a ground-cover-like daisy and flower all season long. If you are interested the full Latin name it is Brachysome angustifolia and is the same deal as in all daisies, and most perennials, in that they like lots of sun. 

 
Brachyscome Brasco Bright Pink is almost eternally flowering. It looks stunning and is an easy-to-grow addition to any garden with bright candy pink flowers almost year round.  Fast growing, reaching 30cm quickly, it makes a great border plant or you can plant in groups for effect. Prefers full sun and good drainage. Perfect for pots. The other varieties in this series need the same growing conditions and mainly differ in flower colour. Brachyscome Brasco Candy has flowers in bright candy pink. Brachyscome Brasco Purple and Brasco Violet both have blooms in lovely being shades of purple.
Also recently arrived are some climbers that will self-attach to your wall being climbing hydrangeas like Seemani and Schizophragma hydrangeoides. Once these get going they will cling to the wall  and delight with masses of lacecap-like flowers in late spring to early summer. Shizophragma is deciduous and Hydrangea seemanii is an evergreen form. What more could you want? The picture is Schizophragma hydrangeoides just out and in full bloom in my garden at home.. It's growing on a block wall and just looks stunning (see image above).

 
We're still getting in pretty fluffies such as Primula Candelabra Mixed Whorls of unusual shaped elegant flowers. The tall stems rise up from a rosette of basal leaves and carry the flowers in a tiered arrangement hence the name, Candelabra. This hardy perennial originates from China and thrives in bright, moist environments hence it's common name of Bog Primula. 
Gaura So White or Whirling butterflies is another pretty one. Pure white butterfly shaped flowers smother the stems, a delight in both vase and garden from late spring through to winter. Gaura So White has both a clean, disease free foliage and a compact habit. Attracts butterflies. A very easy-care, rewarding perennial which grows easily in sunny situations.
Still heaps of colour showing amongst the Roses. If you like to choose roses based on what you can see and smell, then come on out and have a browse. Standard roses are also in full flower. One of the most popular standards would be Iceberg and these are looking beautiful right now, although the heavy rain on Friday won't have done them any favours.

I asked nursery staff which of their favourite roses were at their best just now, and Jane told me her patio rose Cutie Pie is looking just gorgeous. This simply adorable little rose has repeat blooming in masses of petite coral peach flowers. Ideal for smaller spaces or for planting in a pot with compact and healthy, bushy growth. An international award winner. 
Shane noted that Little Miss Perfect, another patio rose, is looking lovely and that these have been a great seller since they first arrived on the scene a few years ago. This award-winning rose was bred in NZ quite recently by Rob Somerfield. It produces prolific, double, coral flowers. A compact bush with large blooms that almost hide the matte green foliage. This lovely healthy bush flowers for a long period and looks great as a standard.
Tracy said that Strawberry Blonde and Hokey Pokey, both floribunda roses, are flowering profusely and looking outstanding. These two roses were also bred in NZ by Rob Somerfield, so you know they will do well in our conditions. Strawberry Blonde delivers an abundance of fragrant, soft golden-apricot blooms above mid green leaves. Continuous flowering throughout the season. Lovely in the garden or in a container. Hokey Pokey has clusters of fragrant honeycomb-coloured blooms, produced in beautiful multi-petal, tightly quartered formation. Repeat flowering bushy plant with dark glossy foliage.

 
Well, I started with Christmas and so ending on the note, it appears that the countdown to Christmas holidays and summer has begun. All I can do is look back on the almost year just past and think "where has all that time gone?". Another year older and wiser, well hopefully. This time of year is when we begin to make all of our orders for the new season that is still 7 or so months away and that is no mean feat, trying to work out quantities for 2025. It's also the time that if you have specific needs or want a plant for a purpose, then please let us know so that we can factor that into our orders. Email us with any enquiries if you are planning and need specific trees now, to line a driveway for example. This also applies to roses and gives us an indication as to what our clients' needs are.
Finally, get creative if you are putting your tree up and have a fab 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: