Manuka Seedlings

Having said a couple of posts ago, that manuka from seeds was not that successful, however, here are the seed trays with the manuka experiments. And some of them are growing pretty vigorously.

So, time to scoop them out (with a cheap supermarket fork) and put them into pots. They were definitely ready for it too, as their roots were starting to get all tangled up. I did as many as I felt like, but I think there is more work to be done, even the small ones had long roots.

All in all, a busy and satisfying, afternoon's work.

New Spring Growth in NZ Natives

All those native trees that I planted in autumn are beginning to bud up and produce beautiful glossy new leaves. 

Winter Growth

Look how my hebe hedge is growing! And it is the middle of winter too. Another month till spring, when it should start to really get away. Might actually have a half decent hedge by the end of summer.

Mail Order NZ native plants

You can buy anything online these days! This is my first time buying plants, but it worked out really well. So I ordered 35 plants, 23 hebes all the same - Wiri Image, which is a purple flower and medium size, so about 1m high I think. And 12 pratia angulata, which is a NZ native ground cover, with little white flowers. And 35 seems a magic number because you can have 5x7 fitting neatly in a box.

The hebes are going to make a low hedge around the back and front of the Harmony Garden, and the pratia are in between. If they don't spread very fast I'll have a go at propagating them, which is by division. Or so the book says, we shall see.

I've put them quite close, but it looks miles apart because they are little plants. Its always a balance, how far apart to plant when they are new, and how to allow for the end size. And I always seem to err on the 'jam them in close to each other' end of the spectrum. Still, a hedge is meant to be close, right?

What NZ native plants flower in winter?

This tecomanthe speciosa is a NZ native climber, and in winter it has the most luscious huge flowers, hanging down under the leaves and hiding. They look like they ought to have a rich heavenly scent, but have no smell at all. These photos are from underneath, definitely worth the effort to bend down and peer up though.