News

Every time I do a stint of serious weeding in the bush ( I try to do about an hour and a half most days) I am amazed and delighted by how strongly the understory is regenerating after degradation by cattle and possums. There are so many tiny ferns and seedings...

I found this sizeable stick insect in the car after an abortive attempt to forage for loquats, they were all way out of reach. So drove back and attempted to rehome the creature in the nearest tree. It vanished immediately, I hope safely. The cats have spent the day...

A nasty cold southerly came up in the night and the llamas have wisely started to graze down the hill a bit. I managed to spread two barrow loads of mulch before retreating inside for coffee. I need to get on with in as there is grass seed coming up with the llama poo...

I decided to rake a little break this morning and continue with my beach research to prepare for summer visitors. There is a great spot at the end of Nook Rd, it’s a bit of a scramble down. I just wished I’d brought some bags for all the pretty pink sea lettuce,...

We finally managed to plant the kowharawhara, perching lily or Astelia Solandri, in the fork of a big totara tree. I think it will do well there as one living in it’s neighbour is massive. Simon has stacked the first load of firewood for next winter and I remembered...

Bamboo is such a fantastic material for light garden structures. Thank you Robin, for letting us raid your garden. I certainly don’t want to grow any. It’s a perfect day for planting so two sorts of sugar snap peas are now in the ground and a picking space is mulched....

Splitting firewood, spreading mulch from same tree and baking a huge cake and muffins has occupied most of the day. Most trees are now mulched The cake was far too big when there are no visitors. I reckon I could easily feed 16! Very yummy with creme fraiche And the...

The very first mesclun salad greens have come up strongly. No slugs and snails or other bugS so I’ll be able to add them to a salad over the next few days. Some of the newly planted herbs are doing well and the chervil is just starting to emerge. The llamas came for...

A beautiful sunny afternoon, still very wet underfoot and the dogs and I all got extremely muddy weeding. We saw puawhananga flowering on a number of plants glistening in the bush near the kauri trees. The llamas were very happy browsing at the top of the hill. The...