Another Jo Ogier Art Workshop coming up – “Field Sketching and Nature Journaling” – Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2015.
This will be a two day weekend workshop, utilising the Education Centre and the bush, ponds and natural areas. Unlike the previous one day workshops this workshop will be over two days to take advantage of weather and light conditions to combine outside sketching with indoor detailed work in a flexible way.
“Nature Journaling is a wonderful way of making your own study of the Natural World around you. The main emphasis is on YOUR observations of nature - recording and reflecting on what you have seen or discovered. It can be done anywhere: from just looking out your window at home; to what you see on a walk to the park or a field trip into the mountains; it may also be just what is happening in the vegetable garden. Nature is everywhere ready to be explored” – Jo Ogier.
For more details see workshop flyer
Posted: 24 September 2015
The Community Nursery will be closed for winter, reopening on Friday 18th September - see you then. Regards
Chris.
Posted: 11 July 2015
June and July has been a busy time for seed preparation and sowing and for propagating native plants from cuttings. Friday mornings have largely been spent inside the Education Centre (probably just as well given the weather!) with various sorting activities. Sticky kohuhu and lemonwood seeds have been rubbed through sand to remove the stickiness, seeds covered in fruit have had that layer removed, kowhai seeds have been soaked, all in preparation for sowing. Seeds in Southland can be sown and left outside through winter where they get watered and “cold stratification” naturally. Don’t expect to see seedlings until the end of September. For a refresher on what to do with seeds.
The best time to do native cutting is now during the plants dormant period. Like seeds, don’t expect cuttings to make roots until around late September. For a detailed description of what to do and what you’ll need – see cuttings section.
Posted: 7 July 2015
Robert and Robyn Guyton are running this years “Go Organics Course” and on Saturday 4th July the group came to the Community Nursery to learn about native plants. Particularly of interest were the topics of native shelterbelts, creating wetlands, plants to attract birds and propagating plants from seed and cuttings. Time was spent walking around the pond and bush track looking at different aspects of native plants for restoration projects. The day was completed with a brief look at some of Southland’s rarest plants in the Threatened Plant Garden.
Posted: 7 July 2015
Come armed with good food as we celebrate the past season and look forward to spring. The nursery will be closed for winter and will re-open on Friday 18 September.
Its also an opportunity for me to thank everyone who has helped with the Nursery and Education Centre during the year and look forward to more exciting events next season! Have a happy winter break! Chris
Posted: 7 July 2015
