May marks the golden end of Autumn in Christchurch — a beautiful, busy time as the landscape transforms and cooler days signal the arrival of Winter. There’s a special energy in the garden now: a race to finish Autumn tasks and lay the groundwork for a thriving Spring.
The Good Life By Gillian Swinton $45.00, Paperback Gillian Swinton is trying to live self-sufficiently: living off the land and adapting to the seasons. With her partner Hamish, their two dogs, a cat, a few sheep, some bees and a lot of chooks, they are also building community and remembering not to take it all … Read More
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month – Cover Crops This may not be plant of the month, but more a selection of plants known as cover crops or green manure, including Phacelia. They are planted to … Read More
CHS proudly honours this year’s award recipients, celebrating their dedication, expertise, and passion for horticulture. Canterbury Horticultural Society Kowhai Award The following individuals have been awarded the Kowhai Award in recognition of their outstanding service to the Society in a voluntary capacity. This award honours those who, through their passion for gardening and plants, have … Read More
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand By Ruben Mita $29.99, Paperback ‘A Naturalist’s Guide to the Fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand’ is an easy-to-use introductory identification guide to 267 species of New Zealand’s fungi, described at species or genus level; perfect for residents and visitors alike. High quality photographs are accompanied … Read More
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month – Japanese Maple As we head into Autumn, we have a wonderful display of weeping maples with vibrant colours of orange, purple, yellow and red. A popular Japanese Maple for … Read More
April Gardening Update Autumn in the Garden With the Equinox behind us, Autumn is in full swing. Leaves are changing colour across the city and countryside, and the garden is transitioning to cooler days. Harvest & Preserve Keep harvesting tomatoes, courgettes, and other Summer crops to preserve for Winter. Freeze them whole, or turn them … Read More
March Gardening Update Canterbury Gardens in Autumn March is ideal for harvesting fruit and vegetables. Surplus produce is common, and freezing remains the most popular preservation method—it’s quick, easy, and cost-effective. Clean, blanch, cool, dry, and pack vegetables into freezer bags before freezing. Bottling fruit and beetroot, while more time-consuming, adds colour to your pantry … Read More
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month – Bulbs Flowering bulbs bring brilliant colours to your garden from late Winter through to Summer. At Portstone, we offer a fantastic selection, including anemones, freesias, ranunculi, hyacinths, scillas, muscari, … Read More
Spanish GardensMonty Don $95 Hardback Based on his new BBC travel series, bestselling author Monty Don takes us on a personal journey through the gardens and green spaces of Spain. For over a decade, Monty Don has travelled the world, using gardens and green spaces to get under the skin of our most beloved cities … Read More