Home & Garden

Rhododendron arboreum. Photo: Christine O'Connor

Adaptations part of impressive plant

The June "Garden Life" article about rhododendron stems mentioned how, in the wild, Rhododendron arboreum can reach 30m in height and form its own forests. Given that, compared with other rhododendron species, it has very brittle branches, this is quite remarkable.

Your garden: August 23

Globe artichokes can be used as tall decorative plants in the flower garden. The flower heads on...

Your garden: August 23

What's happening in your garden this week?

To chit or not to chit?

Chitting potatoes - the process of laying seed potatoes out in a dry, airy place out of direct...

To chit or not to chit?

Depending on which spuds you like, sprouting them early may not be necessary, writes James Wong.

'Softie' shows promise

Ross Meldrum's aronia bushes in autumn. Photo: Joy Bennett

'Softie' shows promise

Gillian Vine gets excited about a new berry.

'Doryanthes' finally about to bloom

Doryanthes palmeri. Photo: Christine O'Connor

'Doryanthes' finally about to bloom

Patience is a virtue and one you will need when waiting for Doryanthes to flower. After 13 years, the wait is nearly over at Dunedin Botanic Garden.

Rosy and read

Dunedin's Bob Grant with his "Champion of Champions" rose bloom Glorious at last year's Otago...

Rosy and read

The Otago Rose Society celebrated its 70th anniversary recently, having produced 603 monthly newsletters. Editor Dave Cannan looks back at how it began.

Your garden: August 16

As the country’s largest parsnip grower, they supplied the vegetable throughout New Zealand....

Your garden: August 16

What's happening in your garden this week?

Time to think tomatoes

Tall (intermediate) tomatoes in a Central Otago glasshouse. Photo: Bettina Vine

Time to think tomatoes

Gillian Vine thinks ahead to summer.

Cabbage tree leaves: help, not hindrance

Cordyline australis. Photo: Christine O'Connor

Cabbage tree leaves: help, not hindrance

The root of a cabbage tree is sweeter than sugarcane. Its flowers are fragrant and bountiful and attract a vast array of birds and insects.

Your garden: August 9

Your garden: August 9

Vegetables

Free your mind and let your senses take the lead

Betula utilis ssp. jacquemontii in one of the garden's theme borders provides texture. Photo:...

Free your mind and let your senses take the lead

Visual appearance is often the focus of amenity gardening. But we have four other senses that can be underused. In fact, exercising these senses can actually feel quite therapeutic.

Your garden: August 2

When sowing, put a few extra beans at the end of the row.

Your garden: August 2

What's happening in your garden this week?

Courthouse acquits itself well

Maria Barta and Jim Hinkley have transformed the former Palmerston courthouse into a comfortable...

Courthouse acquits itself well

A Palmerston couple have transformed the town's former courthouse into a comfortable home.

Your garden: July 26

August is the time to get your Christmas new potatoes in the ground. Photo: Getty Images

Your garden: July 26

What's happening in your garden this week?

Beastly beauties in our midst

Clematis tangutica killed by spraying. Photos: Joe Sherriff

Beastly beauties in our midst

Gillian Vine learns that prickly pear and golden clematis are problem plants in Central Otago.

Candytufts look like starbursts

Iberis gibraltarica. Photo: Gregor Richardson

Candytufts look like starbursts

There are many species of candytuft or Iberis ranging from annuals to shrubby perennials. Flowers vary in colour from white to pale pink through to purple. Interestingly, the common name candytuft...