By ABBIE JURY

I am still “doing” my containers here and this has kept my mind on camellias.

The camellia is viewed somewhat as a utility plant in this country but is far more highly prized overseas. In Switzerland and Italy we saw little plants of pretty ordinary varieties in 1.4 litre pots (that is the small grade you often see in The Warehouse) selling for the equivalent of $NZ60! In the UK, much of which is too cold to use the camellia outdoors all year, they are often grown in containers and moved under cover for winter.
Continue reading →

By ABBIE JURY

At this time of the year I find myself driving over to Ruapehu on relatively frequent occasions.

No, dear Reader, do not even start trying to visualise yours truly on skis. I am what is described as a cafe mother, indulging Last Child At Home’s love affair with his snowboard. But as he sleeps on the way over (we leave alarmingly early in the morning) and on the way back (he is tired after a day on the mountain), I survey the countryside.
Continue reading →

By ABBIE JURY

We went to a reception at Government House in Auckland last week. I was going to make irreverent comments about Gummint House but even for closet republicans like us, there is a degree of dignity and respect surrounding the Governor General and Government House. Indeed we dusted off Mark’s suit and aired it so he did not smell of mothballs for the occasion. One could almost describe us a picture of sartorial elegance.

The occasion was the launch of the New Zealand Gardens Trust, under the auspices of the RNZIH (the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture). This project has been years in gestation – a framework to present New Zealand to the world as a gardening destination for tourists. With links to New Zealand Tourism Board and Qualmark rating, this is the first serious attempt to present a professional and credible garden product.
Continue reading →

By ABBIE JURY

I had a wry smile last week when I read in the Daily News about transport operators taking district councillors around New Plymouth to experience their difficulties in negotiating the obstacles created by new-look city design.

We seem to have handed over many facets of urban design to qualified people who don’t always appear to be blessed with common sense.
Continue reading →

By ABBIE JURY

At last, dear reader, I have managed to get back in the garden. Don’t get me wrong – I spend the better part of all day every day working with plants but, of late, most of that time has been spent in the nursery, not the garden.

Mark, who had been watching Take A Leaf on the Living Channel, was suggesting we could do a similar format TV show here. Mimicking the gentle British commentary, he had himself located in the vegetable garden, Lloyd demonstrating lawnmower maintenance, and “Abbie is preparing her feature plants”.
Continue reading →