New Plants and Summer Happenings

Kia ora

What a Difference a Few Days Can Make

When I first started putting notes together for this summer’s newsletter, things were looking pretty bleak. We were staring down a long, dry stretch of weather, and many of our plants were under serious stress. Most of my energy went into prioritizing time spent watering, all the while bracing for the possibility of losing some well-established trees — especially after the October winds had already taken a toll.

And then…

On December 30th, we had 45mm of rain! That took us past 700mm for the year — not quite enough to break a drought, but definitely a morale booster. January followed with lovely, steady rainfall, never too heavy all at once. The result? The gardens is looking lush and green again – the surprise is how quickly plants respond to rain -something that can’t be replicated with a hose.

Some of our more mature trees, particularly the hazelnuts and chestnuts, were showing signs of severe stress — I suspect a few might not have made it if the dry weather had continued. We did lose some nuts to the wind, but the hardiest ones are still hanging on the lower branches.

The change in motivation and energy to spend time in the garden was quite significant- the result has been that lots of the bigger preparation jobs have been completed- also helped by slightly lower temperatures than November and December.

This has mainly involved pulling things out rather than planting. Shrubs were the main casualties of the clear out. Some had succumbed to lack of regular pruning becoming leggy and decidedly unattractive. Now I have lots of lovely new space for more perennials. Pete has made quick work of putting these discarded shrubs through the mulcher so nothing is wasted.

A plus was that the early dry did give us the opportunity to observe which plants handled the dry and wind best, though it was a real test of our commitment to plants suited to our environment without irrigation – except during establishment phase.

The following plants showed absolutely no sign of stress despite many being quite exposed.

Himalayan Cedar, Tagasaste (Tree Lucerne), Pistachios, Olives, Manna Ash (Fraxinus ornus), Gleditsia, Oaks (other than the Mexican Oak- Quercus rhysophylla) Monkey puzzle Tree and Quillarja saponaria. The Sedums (Hylotelephium ) are the standouts among the perennials, and Rosa mutabilis while not flowering as prolifically in the dry did hold its leaf colour well, as did the rugosa roses. The santolinas and Helichrysum italicum (curry plant) always look good. In the shady gardens I was very impressed with the lovely Epimediums and Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’ which showed not the slightest stress effects.

One thing that really stood out to me this year was how much better the densely planted perennial beds coped with the dry spells. It’s convinced me that I need to grow more annuals to fill the gaps in new gardens while the permanent plants settle in.

I hope you’ve also had the chance to enjoy your garden this summer — and that any extreme weather has spared you too much trouble.

New Plants

Summer sowings of perennials have been very successful with great strike rates and strong growth. Plenty of plants to fill in gaps from all the summer cull and plenty for you as well. There are also many of your favourites back in stock in good numbers including: Salvia nemorosa both ‘Caradonna’ and ‘Blue Queen’, Knautia macedonica ‘Red Cherries’, Helenium Helena red and Pycnosorus globosus (Billy buttons)

New Varieties:

• Monarda didyma
• Artemisia ludoviciana (A few)
• Veronicastrum virginicum f. albiflorum (A few)
• Kerria japonica ‘Pleniflora’ (A few)
• Digitalis parviflora ‘Milk Chocolate’
• Agastache aurantiaca ‘Tango’
• Achilla filipendulina ‘Cloth of Gold’
• Salvia leucantha (A few)

What I’m listening to

When I’m working in the garden, I usually prefer the natural soundtrack of birds and insects, though in the nursery I often switch to music. This summer, however, I’ve found myself tuning into a few podcasts. I’ve discovered that, when I’m in the right frame of mind, I really enjoy them—though they do require a little more focus than music, and since I often slip into a meditative rhythm while working, they’re not always the best fit every day.

One garden podcast I’ve particularly loved is The Sentimental Gardener. In fact, I’ve enjoyed it so much that I now have a paid subscription. What sets this podcast apart is the way it prompts thoughtful reflection. The host asks gardeners questions that are just as valuable for listeners to consider: What are your earliest garden memories? What does a garden—and gardening—mean to you? What are your favourite plants, and why?

It’s also a lovely reminder that gardens are always evolving—changing, growing, and never truly “finished,” but instead part of an ongoing, meaningful process.

Family Happenings

As some of you will know we are very lucky to have our daughter, son in law and two grandchildren living on our land in their self-built tiny home. They add a fullness and richness to our lives plus plenty of laughs. Both Jesse and Maryja are creative souls and their artistic creations bring joy to us and others.

Maryja is dedicated maker with a love for handcrafted art, Maryja spends her time exploring macramé, crochet, and felt work. Her creations are thoughtful, textural, and full of heart—often finding their way into the home, the garden, and the hands of friends. Her felt NZ bird bookmarks are now available on our website.

Jesse is a talented mural artist, adding color and story wherever he goes. His work draws inspiration from the natural world, and his large‑scale pieces bring vibrancy and life to every surface he touches. Jesse is currently working on a new sign for our gateway, which I will look forward to sharing with you soon. You can also check out more of his artwork here.

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