I always seem to notice stuff about plants and the other day I was looking at a row of 6 magnolia Little Gems that I have up there at home. One just had this look about it. Hard to to explain but the overall tree had not quite the right colour hue about it. Just wasn't quite the right shade of green. I had my suspicions about it and in a very short time of only 3 or 4 days it had almost changed colour and leaves had drooped, looking in all very much that its life had ended. I am pretty sure that this tree has suffered from a soil borne fungal infection. Phytopthera is a soil borne infection that affects plants, but I was more curious about Magnolias and so had a quick google to see if there was anything out there. I copied the piece that I found because its seems to explain what happens quite well because as in anything that lives and is in a weakened state it is more prone to infection.

Now I mention that there is a row of 6 of these grandiflora Magnolias and this fungus may or may not necessarily affect the remaining 5. The question on the tip of all our clients' tongues, and I often get asked or told that there is another of the same plant close by and it's not affected by this problem. That's where we have to acknowledge that we are dealing with something living and for whatever reason may be in a weakened state no matter how close or distant it is from other like plants.

Its Interesting to note as well because Alex aka Buster and I were planting all these paddock trees the other day. I had chosen Liriodendrons and we went out to plant them on this block and nearly every soil profile (hole) that we dug was different from the previous one even though they were all on the same block and not that far from each other. The first one we dug, the topsoil was beautiful and dark and quite deep and the next seemed to have a clay pan or base quite close to the surface and you could see that the water was not going to drain so fast, then the next was kind of a combination of all. In the end you just never quite know what is in that spot.

Beech trees are pretty handsome large specimen trees and I spied the other day that we had a few Fagus Dawyck Gold, Green and Purple and we don't often have these. The Dawyck series are all upright in form and grow into these very handsome columnar form of beech in their respective colours gold, green and the purple. Ideal for along a drive or in narrower situation. Don't forget that they are still a beech and so in the scheme of things are still a large growing tree, just upright. I have planted the purple forms up our drive, and they are starting to look pretty cool.

Sorbus aria lutescens. Sorbus is the genus for Rowan trees and more often that not, these are seen in the South Island where they are renown for their colourful berries. Aria Lutescens has the most gorgeous silver leaves that have just emerged this spring and are looking like the perennial lambs ears leaves but better,  but just on a tree.

Laburnum alpinum pendula. Something a bit more collectible and if you are familiar with golden chain tree or Laburnun vossii this is a different species and a weeping choice to boot. A Cascading specimen tree that is perhaps little known and has weeping yellow racemes of golden yellow flowers hence the common name also of Golden chain tree. Perhaps a feature tree in your garden?

I am doing another garden and want a subtropical look, position doesn't get frosts and I wanted a palm that only attained a max of 2 to 3 metres.. Clumping seemed a good choice rather than having to plant a cluster of three and so I chose one called Sugar cane palm or for Dypsis Baronii. Palms are a bit of a new area to me mostly only having dealt with the one that cope with a cooler climate but this one seem to suit the bill with stems that have sectional markings that earnt the obvious name of sugar cane palm. I am offsetting the palms with a central Crete Urn called Pithos. The next layer down will be an informal planting of philodendron, gardenia and the like 

Nikau or Rhopalostylis Sapida is NZ's mainland native palm, shuttle cock  style fronds and a trunk with rings that just reaches out to be touched. One of my faves. A tad frost tender when young but these must be really hardy as they cope with Urban planting like K road and Queens St in in Aucks. No room for one of these in the garden I planning but will sure suit being in a pot as a feature for some years to come on the paved area. Pot I'm thinking Pot Planter Exara or Pot Planter Roumpaki Cretan

Dwarf Date Palm or Phoenix Roebelenii are pretty cool too. A smaller palm that would suit a smaller garden or again would be awesome in a pot. They always appear kind of lacey to me and once they get a bit of age on the will develop a small trunk.

Syagrus Romanzoffiana but I will stick to Queen palm as no idea how to get my tongue around the Latin name. Probably a classic that most will know tall and upright with classic feather shaped fronds. Great for that palmy paradise garden but do like some protection in cooler climates and cold winds.

Shade gardens can be a bit tricky as they often don't rely on colour as many shade loving plants are perhaps not so colourful. To achieve a good result may require some planning and I always think that a mix of evergreen and deciduous and different foliage types will speak for themselves. Hostas are winter dormant but when they come through in the spring the range of  colours, size and variation of the leaves will wow everyone. We have pretty good range this year and so check them all out on line or see the few highlighted below.

Kiwi Skyscraper has an obvious name I would like  to think being of larger dimensions  and rich blue green foliage.

So Sweet Large luscious leaves of green highlighted with white margins and topped off with stems of  fragrant white flowers in summer.

Praying Hands is unusual & considered to be a premium Hosta. It's very upright, narrow leaves are folded, resembling two hands folded in prayer

Dew drop is a tiny one with A really neat perennial that is grown for its exciting foliage that appears like magic in the spring. Grown in dappled light.

Francoa maybe not so known but should be because they have fab foliage, larger dark green leaves and they like being in the shade and are evergreen.  On top of all that they have tall flower spires of white lilac or pink flowers. These  would contrast nicely with some of the more variegated leaves of the Hostas. I have added these to my shade areas to add foliage contrast and evergreen foliage. Check out Starry Eyes, Dancing Flamingo, Lilac bouquet and White bouquet.

Another not so known perennial is Reineckia Carnea or Chinese Lucky grass, . another great plant for the shade with broad grass like foliage and small stems with star like pinkish fragrant flowers..  Will grow through the garden a little like Mondo grass does evergreen and looks good against rounded leaves like Hosta's and Francoa's

Cecilia has been doing the hard yards bringing all of these priced and into stock, no mean feat when I think that there was literally two trucks full but they are here and displayed away ready to check out. Sadly we don't courier pots and as such are collection only but plenty on site to check out!

Kumaras have been racing out and the temps certainly feel warm enough for planting these now. especially today.. We still have in store gold and traditional red with more orange and red arriving next week.  If you are after orange then book them for when they arrive next week 

Looking hot in the nursery, well I am going to say it, from what I think are the best display of roses that we have ever grown to deciduous azaleas popping bright colours right now. When I walk around and see the amazing array of maples with just stunning foliage, it all looks pretty beautiful and well worth it to have a look if you are out our way. 

Rhodohypoxis is the name I know these pretty petite perennials by. They are the sort of plant that would suit being in a rockery but do they ever look really neat in a shallow dish like pot. Technically its a creeping stoloniferous perennial that grows from tuberous rhizomes if that its not too complicated. In easy terms perhaps grows like twitch, but very closely knit and when not in flower does look very delicately grassy which also looks quite cool in a pot. When in flower its impressive with masses of sweet star shaped flowers that absolutely smother the entire space. Ang has managed to find  these and nice plants too in pink white and red.

I think that it would be fair to say that it was a pretty stunning Labour weekend with balmy spring temperatures and lots of sun shine and I am looking forward to another great gardening weekend coming but that's not what todays weather report is saying but well take it. beside we need the rain to keep the garden growing. I still have plenty of projects in our garden anyways. 

Halloween is looming, Monday 31st. Trick or treat, so be prepared and have plants instead of lollies. Have a great weekend.

Cheers Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team.