All of our ponds disappeared into a single flowing entity of water! Its an interesting point but the area behind the nursery was once a Waikato river course. The nursery and office and villa are sitting on one side being the western sand bank and then you look out across the ponds to the eastern sand banks. The ponds in between are basically a peat swamp and a high water table and a small drain called the Kormakorau runs through to Taylor road. The cool thing is that in times of a deluge of water, the Kormakorau become the natural drainage area for the region which is exactly what has happened with Debbie.

                            

I don't think that we have seen it this high for some years now as it was certainly lapping up at the base of the bridge that crosses to the back property. Luckily Harry's cows had the sense to be up high and dry in the top block rather than grazing down in the lowland area. The lowland flood area is the perfect home to the Kahikatea that live there and the Waikato would have been well covered with these handsome trees in times gone. As you look out from the display garden there is such a handsome stand of these beautiful trees sitting in the natural water run off.  Guess that these were saplings that were left when the trees were milled in days for school seats and butter churns. Kahikatea wood is a soft wood and has the the reputation of not tainting and bends well which suited what it was used for.

It doesn't happen very often but we currently have a full team, and it is showing by the amount of work that is getting done around the nursery.  You will have seen some of the pics posted on facebook of the work they have been doing. Now the team is able to focus on some of the projects that will get the nursery ready for the incoming new seasons stock. Shortly we will replace the weed mat in a number of high traffic areas. In particular the rose area is in need of a spruce up. And the weed cloth will be be replaced where the new season standard roses will be going. 

Kunzea Ericoides our native Kanuka. Summer flowering giving a gorgeous display of white. These are currently only $5.99 oro buy 20 or more and get them for $5.00 each. These are fast growing, great for banks, boundaries or woodlots.

Leptospermum Scoparium AKA Manuka. This is also white flowering in summer. The bees love this so lets help our bee's, they need feed throughout the year and these plants offer the bees food when they really need it, on special at $5.99ea or buy 20 or more for $5.00 each.

Pseudowintera or Pepper trees as many know them are one of the oldest plants on the plant.  Native to NZ these are a wonderful substitute for culinary pepper seasoning.  Usually the leaves are dried and ground to a powder then used wherever black pepper is used, direct on meat, mixed with oils or sprinkled on your salad.  The current collection in stock has a varied range of leaf colour.  Apparently a small amount added to black tea can be quite invigorating.  Plum Wine is the latest addition to this collection.

Daphne we have some lovely Daphne in stock and a standout is Perfume Princess. With the name it has you just know it is going to have exceptional fragrance but this is a unique daphne in that it likes full sun. 

Erica These tough little shrubs just smother themselves in colour just when you need it most in winter. Springwood white, Ruby Shepherd, Kramers Red are just in.

We also have new stock of Viburnum Eve price, Gwenllian  and a new one to us Tinus Anvi