Take a ramble, pick some roses
Go to the garden and artfest this weekend, writes Ginny Clark
IF YOUARE LOOKINGFOR something to do this weekend, thenmake a plan to get out and about visiting gardens in the Tauranga Garden and Artfest. Ticket holders can marvel, at their leisure, at the wonderful array of gardens openonthe trail and gleansome great ideas for theirown places.
The gardeners have been working tirelessly to have theirownspecial piece of paradise open to view. With over 70 fabulous gardens open to ticket holders (you can buy tickets from us at Decor Gardenworld) there is sure to besomething to learn. There will be plenty of art and music in the gardens too— providing that special atmosphere— along withsome special guest appearances and activitiesat the Festival Hubat the Tauranga racecourse.
I love this time of the year. It gives us an opportunity to get out and about to properties that you would otherwise never see. For those that needsome inspiration there is no better time in particular to gather planting ideas and decide on what you like in a garden.
Of course roses will be floweringnowtoo, so it is the ideal time to see themat their best and thengetsome for yourownplace. This season the flowering of roses and quite a fewother trees and shrubs has been a little on the late side due to the inclement winter and springweather conditions. Withsomemuchwarmer days latelywe have seen everything start to reach its full potential so choose your rosesnow while you can see the blooms before you buy. Our range is substantial, including a number of recent releases. Little Miss Perfect is a favourite of mine, along with Lemon’n’ Lime and Blackberry Nip. These have all beenbredhere in the Bay of Plenty, along with plenty of bush, climbing and standard roses ready for your garden now.
For information on the Tauranga Garden and Artfest go to www. gardenandartfestival.co.nz.
Haveagreatweekend on tour. We’ll see you back in the gardencentre and help you choose just the right thing for your garden.
Most species originate incentral and South America, Central and East Africa and Southeast Asia through to eastern Australia.
Cycas revoluta is perhaps the best known of the cycads. It’s a reliable, midsized cycad that’s regularly seen innew Zealand, and it’ll grow in cool places. Two other species gaining in popularity innew Zealand gardens are the larger and faster growing Cycas taitungensis and the tropical (suitable for northernnew Zealand) Cycas thouarsii.
An Australian cycad genus suitable fornewzealand gardens is Macrozamia. There are around40 speciesof Macrozamia and those from theeast coast ofnewsouth Wales and southeasternqueensland are well suited towarmer parts ofnewzealand.
The cycad genus Zamia frommexico, the Caribbean, Central and Southamerica contains several small cycads suitable for warmer parts ofnew Zealand. Perhaps best known is the Zamia furfuracea, commonly called the
Cardboard Fern, which, given the right spot, forms amoderate-sized plant.
As with palm trees, different cycads require different growing conditions. As a rule they’re sun bunnies that prefer mild winters, warmto hotsummers and good drainage. However some will tolerate light frost. Butwhen you’re potting or planting them, don’tmet themsit in water for more than a nano-second. They’re inclined to expire if theyget waterlogged.
They’re quite tidy plants so you won’t spend hours cleaning themup, but as the old leavesdie these should be removed. Use gloves, because these prickly plants can, on occasion, bemean-spirited.
If you find yourself becoming a serious fan, plan a trip to Thailand forwhen the borders open. There you’ll find the 200ha Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden in Chonburi Province. It’s amajor scientific centre dedicated to cycads, with itsown Cycadgene Bank.