Coming up with a title for the weekly email can be a a tad tricky as you have to be careful about what different providers will let through. I hadn't really thought about October rain and then I suddenly thought that it was just so apt for this week as I think that it's the first real rain we have had this month. I just checked our rain gauge and there was a good 22mm in there and just in time too as things were starting to dry out.

It's good for keeping the ground nice and moist which makes gardening so much easier. It's also good 

for planting as the plants will transplant and start to grow quickly with the now nice warm temps and the soil moisture. If you mulch now then this will help maintain soil moisture as we move towards summer, just don't forget that you mustn't build the mulch up around the stems of plants as this can cause the bark to rot which may kill your plant, so feather it down to nothing close to the plants. Mulch will also help water to be absorbed into the soil but remember that course or green mulch will steal Nitrogen from the soil in the short term so you may need to feed more with nitrogen rich ferts.

I know that Labour weekend, which is looming, is the traditional time to be planting your veg garden, well any planting really. Typically labour weekend is the point where the ground is meant to have warmed enough to start planting heat sensitive vege like beans, corn, basil etc. but if its a cold spring then it can still be a tad early. I'm thinking that it still might be a tad cool especially if they are forecasting cold weather down in the South Island which will make it cooler up here.

Daisies... I struggle with the Latin name of Argyranthemum frutescens and so I usually stick with the nice and common name of Daisies, or perhaps more correctly Marguerite or Paris daisies. These beauties make an awesome show throughout spring and summer making them superb fillers in the garden. Last year Harry organised some large pots of daisies and they sat around on our patio area and just flowered and flowered. In fact they did such a good display we have made a small number these available this season if you are looking for a well grown plant. It's just a matter of keeping up with the watering and food for pots. They did have a slight lull when the main flush finished but a gentle cut back, food and water and they were back on total form in just 6 weeks.

Just know that Daisies are technically perennial shrubs and will thrive through our warm summers but may suffer in the Winter if they are totally exposed to the frost and the cold. In town and next to the house they may be in a micro climate that will suit them well.  I think that you get good bang for your buck with a flowering plant like our marguerites as they seem to perform pretty easily and flower heaps compared to may annuals and other shrubs.

When trimming them don't cut back into brown wood but rather keep your pruning into the young fresh green wood as this will regenerate the best.

                

Calycanthus Hartlage Wine. Amazing what you find in flower out the back and I spied these Calycanthus Hartlage Wine just blooming away and so I moved them right up close to the shop with their pretty rusty maroon red flowers. Carolina all spice is there common name and maybe not so new but rather not so well known.