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Saturday 12th May, 2018
Hi
Mistaken Identity?
Sooooo Funny!
The other day I was mid flight in conversation with a client when they called me Harry... That often happens as most know that it will be either myself (Lloyd) or Harry. Normally I don't say anything as it doesn't matter one iota and I think good on them for using our names .. not that I think that we look alike or anything. On this particular occasion I think I said, actually I'm Lloyd, as I pointed to the name on my shirt and then launched into an old story of another customer that calls us Larry... never remembers which of us is which, only that our names are Lloyd and Harry so Larry was a damn good compromise...
It wasn't until the end of the day when I took my shirt off and glimpsed the name sewn on it that I realised I had inadvertently worn Harry's shirt all day! No wonder the clients looked at me as if I had lost the plot when correcting them, what with the name Harry blazoned on the shirt I was wearing...
I will have to sort the washing more carefully in the future or at least check which shirt I'm wearing.
To espalier is not so difficult
Espalier as defined by wikipedia
Espalier is the horticultural and ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth for the production of fruit, by pruning and tying branches to a frame. Plants are frequently shaped in formal patterns, flat against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis, and also plants which have been shaped in this way.
It seems that many house sections, these days, have become quite a lot smaller but with lots of fence space, so growing plants trained along the fence is quite a good idea. I am guessing that the art of espalier probably started with fruit trees so that they produce lower to the ground, have light both sides, would suit culture in rows and so on. Now apples and pears would have to be amongst the easiest of fruits to espalier as most varieties fruit on spurs and these spurs will fruit for some 7 to 10 years before the main framework needs replacing with something fresh.
Other fruits like peaches, plums and the like fruit on previous seasons wood and older which means you have to be more onto how you prune to espalier and to still get fruit.
Now its not just pip and stone fruit that can be espaliered but also citrus and I have seen a Meyer lemon layered against a fence looking just stunning and oh so purposeful too. Mandarins and I guess oranges and grapefruits could be done too... it is just about the management of the same.
Don't forget grapes trained along wire will also look like a form of espalier especially if you do them formally along the wires at set spacing's and this could go for all manner of climbing or rambling fruits.
For those shady areas or fences that get less light then consider a Camellia to espalier as a better choice than a climber. A climber will tend to want to get to the top of the fence to get the sunlight as that's why they climb but a Camellia will cover the fence more so as an espalier or even a very thin hedge. The species of sasanqua Camellias are a good choice for espalier as the tend to have laxer or more floppy growth habit than say japonicas.. perhaps even some of the species but japonicas tend to be a tad more upright and stiff... not that I'm saying it can't be done.
Mine No Yuki, Early Pearly and Silver Dollar are three sasanqua Camellias that spring to mind that would tie down nicely but I'm sure that there are many others. Rosaeflora cascade is a species that has a lovely cascading habit and would do the task nicely.
A formal espalier will run on horizontal wires that are placed approx 50 to 60 cm apart and I imagine that at least three wires of these will look the best but its up to you and how high that you desire to go.
Then there is the other style of espalier that I imagine could look very cool and that is a fan shape running from a central point and this could be done formally too. In my opinion the best looking espalier are those that you can also see the frame work or the structure and this does require some annual, or more likely, pruning twice a year. In the case of fruit trees pruning in the winter to return to the frame work and again while they are in fruit to let light in, force growth into the crop and so on.... other plant choices would probably be pruned after each growth flush being the spring and the autumn... or use the rule of after flowering. If you don't have the inclination to start your own espaliered plants, you can purchase plants already started as espaliered. We have a great selection of espaliered camellias to choose from.
In conclusion explore, experiment and have fun in the garden and soften all those fences with greenery.
Should be planting now
Garlic...Just planted ours yesterday.... just in case.... you break the heads up into individual cloves and plant at approx twice the depth of the cloves with the basel plate downwards being the old root part.. we planted ours at about 15cm centres..
The garlic that we have is the classic kind called Printanor. This is available in three sizes 100g, 200g and 1kg bags for the serious garlic fiends.
Elephant Garlic.. went in the garden yesterday also..I like growing this too and you get such huge cloves... its not called elephant garlic for nothing. Two bag sizes available here also.
Pine nuts... We haven't had these for ages but have a fresh new batch in right now. Pinus Pinea is the latin name for this pine tree that yields those pricey pine nuts that I just love to use. Don't forget that it needs a bit of space as it is actually a pine tree.
Lavender super... You just never know, I saw these awesome quality lavenders and they were from a cancelled order so we grabbed them. Classic English style lavender and just perfect for a mass planted hedge in a hot sunny and perfectly drained spot. Normally I would recommend planting in the late spring but these are great plants well hardened and nicely bushy.. just ensure that you don't plant any deeper than they are in the pot and be wary of mulch around the base of them.
Guavas red and yellow, I quite like these small tangy fruits.. could be quite a good addition for those that like going out to the garden to find good snacks all around just for the picking.. Could be useful as a small bushy hedge or just as a shrub in the garden.... experiment cooking with these!!
Helleborus, Winter roses, Hellebores call them what you prefer, I will understand LOL... the range is fabulous right now and there seems to be more and more really good new cultivars and hybrids so make sure that you check them all out.
Camellias and Rhodos and Azaleas... It always seems just right when you throw these three together. Again the range doesn't get any better than at this time of year so if you are after some of these to grow in your garden then check them out on our website or if you are able then come out and browse through all the stock. We have both deciduous and evergreen azaleas, all sizes of Rhodos and a good selection of Camellia grades to choose from in the different hedging varieties, along with an extensive selection of varieties to choose from whether you are wanting the gorgeous flashy blooms, big colourful trees or just colour through the winter. I'm sure there's something there to cover most peoples requirements.
Lavender Super Helleborus Lilly Guava Red Guava Yellow Pinus Pinea
Trees to get in the ground now
Large grade London planes Nice, well furnished, tall grade at 3+ metres.. we all know this grand tree with the mottled bark.. reasonably quick growing suitable as a paddock tree or great subject for being pollarded.
Liquidambars.... handsome trees renowned for their stunning Autumn colours.. these too need a bit of space to grow but are awesome feature trees.
Alnus cordata or the Italian alder.. another reasonably quick growing hardy tree that could have a similar form to that of a silver birch being tall and slender .. Attractive heart shaped leaves
Trees on special
Horse chestnuts or Aesculus, dont forget about these amazing buys at half price....such handsome speciman trees with their awesome candelabra shaped flowers in the spring choose from white, pink and bright pink
Prunus Thundercloud, Blireana and Pissardi Nigra, all 50% of and have great burgundy foliage and pink blossoms in the spring.. technically a flowering plum but just like a flowering cherry and not super huge growing so really a handsome medium tree choice.
Prunus Pink Cloud and Accolade, both grafted at 1.2m... great flowering cherries and a bargain at 30% off the marked price. Pink cloud is a Campanulata hybrid from the acclaimed Jury stables, meaning that its a good hybrid... probably a good choice to attract the Tui's as well and there are enough plants to plant a row of these as well like down a driveway or on a fence line.
Thundercloud Platanus Acerifolia Aesculus carnea Alnus cordata Pink Cloud
End of season Capsicums and egg plants.... What to do ?
We have masses of eggplants and peppers that we decided to pick to avoid weather changes and a random frost getting the plants and fruit. So it was another huge batch of Ratatouille made. Not sure that I can really call it Ratatouille as its mostly egg plant and peppers with some previously made Tomato preserve and heaps of garlic that we had grown. Anyways, I have frozen most of it in lots that we can pull out later in the winter.
There are some rather nice peppers there so I am going to experiment and stuff them with a mince stuffing which will of course be made made with the ratatouille and rice.
Now I totally made this up but Harry had grabbed a couple of packs out of mince, one of beef and the other lamb. I finely chopped a shallot or three and sauteed these in some olive oil.
I then threw in the mince and browned off until it was all separated and starting to brown, now's the point to really guess at proportion, with the amount of mince that I had, I added a cup and a half of basmati rice and about 2.5 cups of water, covered the pan and simmered on the lowest heat until the rice was al dente, or just under cooked.
I removed the cover and then added ratatouille, and again, until it looked tasty enough for the want of the right quantity. Now if you didn't have the ratatouille that I had just made and was trying to use up... you could sub with a tomato base sauce from the supermarket or make up something yourself with fresh tomatoes etc.
Cooked this for a further 5 mins and tasted, decided that it was a tad bland and added a handful of chopped rosemary and thyme salt and pepper and some balsamic reduction.
I then spooned the cooled mix into the appropriate number of prepared Capsicums (ends and seeds removed) stood them all up in a baking container, that managed them all, with their ends up and wedged them up. I had too much mixture left over and so I spooned some of this between the capsicums as well... Topped with grated cheese and baked in the oven over a moderate heat for 3/4 -1 hour or so until it all looked cooked. Served up with Kumara mash, and have to admit I found it mouth-wateringly delicious. Give it a go and let me know what you think!
Just in
Clematis paniculata.. this is one we haven't had in a while as there haven't been any around until now so we snapped these ones up as quick as we could ....One of the native clematis... evergreen and with stunning white typical clematis like flowers in the spring, use to grow to the top of trees or over pergolas and the like.
It's Mothers day tomorrow and roast pork is on the menu for my darling mum... I suggested that she get my sister to collect her so that she can enjoy more than a thimble of wine, perhaps a tipple or three lol... Apparently she has since organised my sister to collect so we are in for a fun night.
All of us here at Wairere wish everyone the very best for Mothers Day weekend. Perhaps go on and spoil someone who is special in you life and not necessarily your mother, perhaps a special Aunt or friend. Perhaps you have family or friends who have no celebration left, surprise them. Just remember this weekend is all about appreciation!
Have a great weekend.
Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team
Make it a Wairere weekend where even GNOMES know that gardening's not a drag.
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2018 Newsletters...
Feb already (3rd February, 2018)
Gardening friends (9th February, 2018)
fabulous feb (16th February, 2018)
Grapes and Art deco in Napier (2nd March, 2018)
About Ferns (10th March, 2018)
out with willow and in with Camellias (27th March, 2018)
Paddock Trees (25th March, 2018)
Trees for Big Spaces (27th March, 2018)
Sasanquas take 2 (30th March, 2018)
Brrr Autumn is here (14th April, 2018)
Garlic and Winter Roses (21st April, 2018)
Friday Again (5th May, 2018)
..... Espaliered
always a project (18th May, 2018)
Power Outages and Proteas (31st May, 2018)
Rose time again (8th June, 2018)
Aussie Natives (19th June, 2018)
Roses Abounding! (23rd June, 2018)
Ornamentals (7th July, 2018)
High, Low or Cascading (13th July, 2018)
Daphne time (20th July, 2018)
Spring in four days (27th July, 2018)
Let the blossoms begin (3rd August, 2018)
Tamarillos (10th August, 2018)
Magnolias3 (17th August, 2018)
Bloom time not gloom time (28th August, 2018)
Is it September Already? (31st August, 2018)
Nuts abounding (7th September, 2018)
Its all in the name... seriously (14th September, 2018)
Blossom bloom again (21st September, 2018)
Fabulous Friday 28 (28th September, 2018)
Fluffies and Pretties (5th October, 2018)
October rain with 22mm (12th October, 2018)
Blue October (19th October, 2018)
Its all about roses this week (26th October, 2018)
what about this (2nd November, 2018)
Rose show 2018 this weekend (9th November, 2018)
The running of the balls sequel 1 (16th November, 2018)
Orange Kumara 1 (23rd November, 2018)
scones (30th November, 2018)
Hydrangeas (8th December, 2018)
French Tarragon Hmmm (14th December, 2018)
Happy Holidays (21st December, 2018)
Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: