Polarising plant makes bold statement
Some plants people either love or hate; Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' is one of those plants. Some people think it looks ghastly, while others go dotty over it.
Garden Life
Flamboyant peony needs a cold start
Flamboyant peony needs a cold start
Nearly everybody loves peonies, but not everyone in New Zealand can grow them. One of the many benefits of living in a cooler climate is the ability to grow plants that need lower temperatures.
Squawking chicks only rarely need our help
Squawking chicks only rarely need our help
In spring, the cycle of life starts anew and birds are busy breeding. At Dunedin Botanic Garden aviary some mothers are on nests, and there are signs others will start laying eggs soon.
Rhododendrons radiant but others have own charm
Rhododendrons radiant but others have own charm
The Rhododendron Dell at the Dunedin Botanic Garden is bursting with spring colour as the rhododendron season gets into full stride and spring bulbs continue to delight. However, it's also worth...
Tough Australian nut smooth on the inside
Tough Australian nut smooth on the inside
Did you know that our Australian neighbours have one of the most prized nut producers as a native tree? Macadamia is a genus of four species, of which three are edible. The fourth is poisonous.
Helping a beloved garden inhabitant
Helping a beloved garden inhabitant
A backyard visit from a kereru is always a delight. It is remarkable that these placid vegetarians, with their ungainly ways and appetising appearance, remain a common sight in urban gardens.
Humble cowslip a winner
Humble cowslip a winner
After a decline in its natural habitat over the past few decades, the cowslip, Primula veris, is once again becoming a common sight in early spring.
Glorius Cynara adds contrast
Glorius Cynara adds contrast
Adding a structural plant to a perennial border adds great textural contrast. Repeating the planting throughout the border creates a defining design feature.
Display continues into spring
Display continues into spring
Flower buds on Edgeworthia chrysantha have been causing great anticipation at Dunedin Botanic Garden over the winter months. This specimen, in the Otaru Teien border by the duck pond, is flowering...
Luscious lemonwood
Lemonwood luscious example of foliar scent
Scent engages the senses; it is commonplace to be lured by a flower's fragrance, but what about its foliage?
Toothache? Time for the horopito
Toothache? Time for the horopito
From the beginning of time we have depended on plants and trees not only for many of our raw materials and food but for the oxygen we breathe.
Elderly, cool bird was last in NZ's aviaries
Elderly, cool bird was last in NZ's aviaries
Until recently, Dunedin Botanic Garden aviary was the last in New Zealand to hold a yellow-tail cockatoo, an elderly male bird.
Versatile, varied junipers
Versatile, varied junipers come in all shapes and sizes
From tall, pencil-shaped trees to ground-hugging shrubs, junipers come in many shapes, sizes and colours.
Rose pruning can be easy
Rose pruning can be easy
Roses need to be pruned each year to encourage new growth.
Much life to be found in winter garden
Much life to be found in winter garden
Gardens can seem more alive in winter than at any other time of year.
Courtship displays for all to enjoy
Courtship displays for all to enjoy
The crested pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) is an Australian native and quite a handsome one at that. Widespread throughout Australia, they are a common sight there.
New trail takes in trees that tell a story
New trail takes in trees that tell a story
Dunedin Botanic Garden has just released a new tree trail.
Autumn leaves gold for the garden
Autumn leaves gold for the garden
Winter is here and the past couple of months have been very busy with tidying-up tasks, including raking that seemingly never-ending supply of deciduous leaves falling from the trees.
A tree that's two in one
A tree that's two in one
Hungry birds have been feasting on the fruits of one of New Zealand's favourite native oddballs, the horoeka, or lancewood.
Autumn hues low too
Autumn hues low too
We associate the fiery colours of autumn with trees - Liquidambar, maple, rowan, poplar and ash to name but a few.