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Saturday 7th July, 2018
Hi
A delightful winter wonderland or another world?
It seems to me that we have had more frosts this year than we have in other years. I have to say that generally a good frost will herald in a stunning day like it did yesterday. You just knew that the day was going to be gorgeous by the way the morning sun peeked through all the trees and lit up all the shrubs and tussocks in the garden, with little drifts of fog completing the picture.
Our local vista was just as you would imagine a winter wonderland would look, every view seemed to lend itself to having pictures taken and so Tony and I had some fun in the garden taking pictures and using the rising suns light to best advantage .... well to the best of our abilities. We have shared them on our respective Instagram and facebook pages, we thought they had some merit and from the comments coming through it would seem I'm not the only one that thinks so. Click the bold word links to check them out and please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Pumpkin Soup
Our friends Trevor and Irene visited the other week bringing with them some of the pumpkins from their bumper crop for us to enjoy. We were inclined toward pumpkin soup and so tried googling some recipes. There didn't seem to be anything all that exciting to follow, maybe I need more lessons in using Mrs google, anyway, I decided to wing my own version.
I had a hankering to using bacon hocks and so grabbed a couple and threw them in a pot of water and cooked them right down until the meat fell of the hoof so to speak. When it was cold I discarded all the bones and removed the skin and shredded the meat back into the stock water and put it aside.
We chopped up and lost the skin on a heap of pumpkin and put it all into a roasting tray along with a whole lot of peeled shallots. (Seem to have an abundance of shallots from last years crop) Splash over the pumpkin some olive oil, add salt and pepper and roast them in the oven until tender.
When well cooked, mash them in the pan and then add all to the bacon stock and start to simmer. We then added finely chopped herbs of rosemary and thyme, some curry powder to taste and let it simmer for a few hours. Lastly we added a can of coconut cream.. Remember to taste it throughout the process and add more salt and pepper other fresh herbs to taste and some honey to sweeten if needed.
Our resulting soup was delicious and just the thing to warm the staff at morning tea on a day, that although it looked beautiful like another world, was still freezing cold, wet and miserable out there working at the potting table. Since Harry has bought me another couple of bacon hocks it must be good so I will give it a go again to see if i can reproduce the same tasty soup. I have put these instructions in our what's cooking section for future reference.
Prunus, Pyrus and Malus are Plums Pears and Apples
When we think of the rose family we don't immediately think of Peaches, Nectarine, Plums, Pears and Apples but these all belong to the family Rosaceae. We have to remember that family is based on the flower structure and the flowers of all our favourite fruits are very reminiscent of those of species roses.
New seasons trees are now around and so if you are planning a home orchard then now is the perfect time to select and plant.
Things to think about when you are planning an orchard.
Plenty of sunlight and free air movement.. fruit trees are not shade plants at all and need the brightest position that you can give them. They need all day sun so that those leaves can photosynthesise to the best of their ability to put energy into growing your fruit. Pruning the centre out of your trees also allows more light into the tree and will help ripen the fruit.
Plenty of air movement around and through the tree will help minimise fungal infections and this can be achieved through a good position and also pruning that will maintain the tree to an open form. Shelter from excessive and robust winds is also a good plan... you don't want all those blossoms blown off in that fragile window of spring. Also shelter, like hedges, will slightly increase the temperature and create a micro climate and may mean the difference between a frost or not.
Size of the trees that you are going to plan. Most fruit trees like apples, pears and peaches have a natural size of around three to four metres high and wide. You can prune to keep these smaller in knowing that pears and apples (as a rule) fruit on fruiting spurs and that peaches nectarines and plums fruit on previous seasons wood and older. Some apples are tip bearers so check our web how to section for spur or tip bearing information.
Apple and pears, peaches or plums can also be espaliered or trained on walls and fences to save space or your could get really fancy and train apples as cordons, or even steps.
Don't forget that different rootstocks have some effect on apples and pears that is relative to the cultivar... I say this because some cultivars like Granny Smith are quite vigorous. In the case of apples the smaller the number the more dwarfing effect it will have. MM106 in the case of apples seems to be one of the better apple stocks as its reasonably robust and will have a semi dwarf effect.
Quince root stocks in pears also have a reducing effect... maybe check out Cathie's Rootstock info page.
Planting a new seasons tree... know that all the potting mix will fall away leaving you holding something that looks like a toilet brush compared to a tree that has been in its container for the past year. Dig your planting hole and break up all the soil so that it's nice, fine and aerated. Mix in the potting mix from the new tree... It has heaps of nutrients for the tree. Don't use any heavy compost as this will hold too much moisture and rot the new growing feeder roots unless you have sandy soil structure.
Remove the tree carefully from the bag as they start to grow those new feeder roots really quickly after potting and they break easily. Plant immediately so that the roots don't dry and try not to break the new feeder roots when planting. Plant to the same depth as in the bag or as dictated the the obvious marking on the trunk that show where the tree was in the soil previously. Firm in the ground well and then stake. Staking is really important as the tree has no root mass and any wind will rock the tree and break the new feeder roots as they try to grow.
Water once after planting so as to settle the soil fines around the roots, probably once in the winter will be enough as it usually keeps raining but if it dries out in late spring then an occasional water may be of benefit. Usually trees that are planted now become established enough before summer so that they can cope... but its a living thing so watch the weather and how the tree appears.
Once planted I also have mulch circles around the tree so as to keep up on the organic matter and will also help soil structure and conserve moisture in the summer months. This also keeps the weeds away from the trunk and has the bonus of being mowed around easily.
Just in and arrived
Buxus standards some cute little standards that would look just the part in a pot and on someones patio... nice plants and a steal at $49.99 these just $39.99
Euonymus hedging for those that want that Buxus look with out being Buxus. Euonymus has leaves that are a bright fresh green and almost looks the same as traditional English Box... trims well too Nice bushy grade just arrived in
Flaxes brighten up the garden with some foliage colour
Evening glow A striking Flax with gracefully arching leaves that are mainly toned a nice rich red outlined with a margin of darker red. Hardy and easy to grow in sun or part shade. Very effective when planted in groups.
Jessie This is just a fabulous flax that has won much admiration both in NZ and world wide. The bright pink arching leaves are edged attractively in green. Looks stunning group planted or make a simple statement by planting in colour co-ordinated container.
Golden Ray A Native Flax with attractive leaves that have a mid green centre and with a cream variegation, outlined with a bright gold line. Just stunning.
Rainbow Maiden Strong upward swords of foliage that droop gracefully at the top in tones of rich salmon pink and coral red with bronze margins. Will grow in sun or part shade, hardy and easy to grow. Great for group planting.
Sundowner A very attractive Flax with arching, broad, sword like leaves in tones of bronze-green with pink margins that gradually fade to cream. Overall has a pink tone so nice to combine with grey or burgundy foliage. Plant in sun or semi-shade.
Tricolour Weeping cream and green foliage tinged with pink/red are the outstanding features on this flax. An ideal impact plant for pots or colour contrast in the garden.
Last weekend for Rose Q and A with Rose society
The Waikato Rose Society We have had some good attendance so far but this will be our last 2 days hosting the rosarians who are offering advice and knowledge about rose care and maintenance. Question and answer sessions will be held here for the last time this year this weekend. Whether you want to grow roses for show, just have an amazing display in the garden or want to ask about rose choices, then these are the guys that you want to catch up with.
These dates are in facebook events, you can register you interest by emailing receiving@wairere.co.nz or show your interest on the event date you are coming to. Don't be shy, register your interest today.
While on the subject of Roses we have the biggest and best range of standards roses that we have ever had and that is because Harry organised one of the suppliers to grow them for us . We have never had so many Austin roses on standards as this year. Take the time to follow the link and check them out.
Really the last chance for Strawbs and be quick only 40 bundles left
Strawberries Camarosa pretty much need to be planted now so get your strawberries into the ground to allow you a fresh harvest of delicious fruit come spring. 10 plants per bundle at $9.99 per bundle. We can send you up to 5 bundles for only $8 freight.
Elephant and Printanor garlic. Its time to get these in the ground now though later planting may just mean a later harvest... don't forget if the weather in spring dries out then you may need to water to get those large heads to develop.. once they start to dry of naturally don't keep watering as this causes them to regrow ... LOL I learnt that lesson last year.
Its been a busy week again here as another 1000 or so trees arrived and the gang have been potting furiously all week.. It never ceases to amaze me at how many trees we must sell and its not until we are potting all the varieties that I think OMG we didn't have any of those left.. we now have a range of weeping maples and there were some pretty nice red stemmed maples being Sango Kaku. Dogwoods, Magnolias, flowering cherries, birches and a whole lot more... I have to add that they are not in the nursery in any particular order yet, that project is coming so please do be patient if you come to the nursery and need help to find your trees. Mostly all the fruit trees are all done and dusted but I think Cathie did mention that a few more bits and pieces will be arriving next week. Walnuts, Hazelnuts and the like.
Its Friday again... those weeks do roll around too fast My potting team are having a deserved three day break and I hope that its going to be a nice weekend for them to enjoy. The other team will be on hand and in the nursery maybe starting to get some organisation to the trees that we have just potted..
Have a fabulous weekend and a productive week.
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 (12th May, 2018)
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
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
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