News and Events

October - Native Trees for Bees

Most people need shelter in Southland. Why not consider native trees and shrubs that also attract bees - there  are many to choose from - koromiko, cabbage tree, wineberry, lemonwood, kowhai, rare plants like Olearia hectorii and lots more!

June - time to sow seeds

On the first day of winter its a good time to think about next season. At the nursery we have collected lots os seed, prepared and cleaned it and are now sowing Seeds. Also in June and July are the best times to take native plant cuttings Cuttings. Come along to the nursery Friday mornings to learn what to do.

Last week was Maggies last nursery day for a year. Maggie and Stephen are off on an exciting adventure - to UK and Greece and then to come back and spend a year travelling around NZ in a converted bus.  I would like to thank Maggie for 12 years of voluntary effort at the nursery and wish her and Stephen an awesome trip. We will of course also miss Maggies culinary delights at the nursery, but in true Maggie style she has been baking flat out and we have a few treats in the freezer to bring out as reminders!

April/May - Time to collect seeds

Autumn is seed collecting time, planting time and a time for planning what you are going to grow and plant next season.

Seed in Fruit – Coprosma, Fuchsia, totara, wineberry, broadleaf, cabbage tree.

Prepare by removing the fruit – putting through a sieve and shaking onto kitchen paper. Store dry seed until ready to sow.

Dry Seed – manuka, hebe, ribbonwood, tussock, Carex, toe toe – collect on a dry sunny day.

Recent Community Events

Community Nursery events dont always feature native plants! Two recent events attended by Nursery regulars were a Cob Oven building workshop at Russell and Bronwyn Grahams in Otatara, run by Peter Aalders from Riverton (see Peter’s feet below!) and a recent apple pressing event at the Community Nursery. Both events were interesting, informative, and very  social!

Community Nursery on National Radio

In April, Chris and Linda were interviewed for the Radio NZ “Our Changing World” follow the link below

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/20120405