It’s the Gardens, but not as we know it…

Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Uncategorized

As the leaves fall from the poplars and oaks in Hagley Park, from my office window I can now see the water of Victoria Lake glistening in the distance. Two things spring to mind. First, while the waters of Victoria Lake and the Botanic Gardens ponds are not quite sparklingly clear when viewed close-up, it is certainly good to have them filled once more. We are told it will be some time before the original wildlife returns to these newly clay-lined water bodies.

My second thought was that before too long the views from our offices in the Botanic Gardens operations centre and nursery area will change forever as we expect to embark on the carefully planned process of demolishing the old and constructing the new Botanic Gardens Centre (sometimes referred to as an Entry Pavilion).

Lemony Goodness

Fruit & Vegetables, News, Recipes

Preserved lemons are an essential item for any kitchen cupboard. Hailing from Middle Eastern, North African and Mediterranean cuisines, you will find many uses for this intense burst of savoury citrus flavour from fish to salad dressings.  If you do not already use it in your cooking, once you have a jar there is no … Read More

Spring Gardening Tasks 2012

Spring Gardening, This Month in the Garden

[one_half] SEPTEMBER: The garden springs into life and so should the gardener! The last of your green crops should be dug in now. Broad beans will start to grow rapidly soon so prepare something to support them. Plant out sprouted potatoes, an application of phostrogen will be beneficial. Seeds of silverbeet, peas, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli … Read More

Daffodil growers beware!

Spring Gardening, The Flower Garden

The large Narcissus fly (Lampetia equestris) flies in October and November. This fly is the same size as a blow fly with the same distinctive buzz. The female lays eggs on the top of a bulb and the resulting caterpillar feeds on the inside of the bulb right through summer.  It is known to attack … Read More

Monthly Tips & Tasks June 2012

This Month in the Garden, Winter Gardening

JUNE – ALL ABOUT GARDENING With Michael Coulter The scheduled All About Gardening meeting for Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 was cancelled due to heavy snowfall.  Official figures showed that Wednesday was Christchurch’s coldest day on record.  The cold snap we are experiencing is a hangover from Wednesday’s heavy snow, when the maximum temperature at Christchurch … Read More

Daffodil Culture

The Flower Garden

It is a myth perpetuated by the Garden Centres that bulbs should be planted early. Research and experience has shown that the bulbs are best when planted when the soil temperature has dropped below 12C. In New Zealand this is at, or just after, Easter. Planting: We recommend that bulbs are planted 20 cm deep … Read More