Life & Style

We don’t often think of plants ripening their fruits in spring; spring seems more about buds bursting, new growth and spring flowers. 

An historic Sawyer’s Bay property is one of seven gardens open next weekend. Gillian Vine reports.

A young Southland family built a sense of history into their new home. Kim Dungey reports.

Ruth Grundy lifts the lid on the treasure chest of an Omarama garden.

Planting a low maintenance, easy care perennial is a good start to spring. 

What to do in your garden this week.

A Kiwi researcher is trying to clear the sullied name of our native wasps - and has named one species after an atoning Harry Potter character to push his point.

October is all go in the garden, as it is the ideal month for seed sowing, says Gillian Vine.

What to do in your garden this week.

Claire Mummery’s Waiheke-based company inspires people to grow their own food in an organic, sustainable way, writes  Ginny Fisher.

In 1912, John Wilson  wrote on early settlement: "About Dunedin was forest, and to get into the country the traveller had to force his way through flax, tutu, fern, scrub, and swamps. The only...

The mulga parrot (Psephotellus varius) has the same name as a well-known tree and is also found in the arid interior of South Australia.

What to do in your garden this week.

An attractive feature of many rhododendrons is their tendency to produce flowers that initially emerge in a deeper colour shade than that of the fully open bloom.

 A barn-red home framed in black is sparking interest in East Taieri. Kim Dungey reports.

Mulching is one of the most important things you can do in the garden, saving time as a weed suppressant and holding summer moisture.

What to do in your garden this week.

Flower shows are a welcome sign of spring. Gillian Vine  reports on two longstanding community shows.