Leonie Jackson Leonie has been a dedicated CHS Member and volunteer for a significant period, dating back to her early involvement with her parents, Rae and Harold Mintrom, at the monthly plant sales table. Despite being a busy mother of three boys and a Primary School teacher, Leonie actively contributed to the legendary annual CHS … Read More
This month is the start of the Summer fruit season with berry fruits at their peak and stone fruit starting to ripen. With longer days and the warmer temperatures these fruits will ripen quickly so they must be looked at each day and are best picked in the cooler mornings before they get too hot. … Read More
Secret Gardens of Aotearoa: Field notes and practical wisdom by Jane Mahoney & Sophie Bannan ISBN: 9781991006240 | $49.99 Secret Gardens of Aotearoa is a beautiful book that showcases twelve intriguing and unique gardens and the people who tend to them, along with advice, guides, and plenty of stunning photography. Written and photographed by … Read More
As the Summer weather arrives many gardeners will be looking to navigate water restrictions and charges. Maximising the effectiveness of hand watering is crucial. In the past I’ve used NovaFlow drainage pipes, these can be buried near trees and shrubs and filled on permitted days or with collected rainwater. This is an efficient way to … Read More
Soil to Table: The Land Gardeners Bridget Elworthy & Henrietta Courtauld ISBN: 9781760762636 | $89.99 The Land Gardeners – Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld – are gardeners and healthy soil researchers and advocates based in the UK. Their first book, Cut Flowers, focused on the role of healthy soil in growing beautiful blooms. Soil … Read More
Around the World in 50 Plants Jonathan Drori, illustrated by Lucille Clerc ISBN: 9781399610698 | $37.99 After the incredible success of Around the World in 80 Trees, Jonathan Drori has returned for another trip around the world – this time with plants as the focus. Around the World in 80 Plants has recently been … Read More
August Winter Gardening Tips from Michael Coulter August is the month that divides some gardeners; is it Spring, or is it Winter? There are many reasons to say that it is mostly Winter, but we do see the signs of Spring around the garden and in the greenhouse. Early daffodils and many other Spring bulbs … Read More
A Forager’s Life Finding my heart and home in nature Helen Lehndorf ISBN: 9781775542209 | $39.99 A Forager’s Life is a beautifully written memoir of a life living in the company, comfort and bounty of nature, by poet and teacher Helen Lehndorf. As a young person, Lehndorf’s life was shaped by the land around … Read More
Winter has now begun with frosty mornings and the last of the leaves falling from the trees. The weather has a big influence on the type of work that may be done in and around the garden. This year we are entering Winter with wet and cold ground which limits what can be achieved. The … Read More
Elderflora – A Modern History of Ancient Trees Jared Farmer ISBN: 978103500905 | $39.99 In this compelling book, historian Jared Farmer weaves a captivating story of humans’ relationship with trees – particularly very old ones, known as elderflora. Farmer combines history, politics and science, travelling back in time and through many cultures and places … Read More