<<From other
column
This is when evergreen natives keep on going. They form strong
structural plantings and encourage the birds. We are having a windless season
but the shelter our natives bring is precious in the bad times. I like the coprosmas
especially the tangled twiggy stems of virescens as it colours up to orange. This
picks up the burnished tones of autumn colours of gossamer grass and the fantastic
bronze toned, landscaping plant Libertia ‘Taupo Sunset’. I like to contrast
this with black and silver foliage and fresh greens such as Hebe ‘Wiri Mist’,
Pitto ‘Mountain Green’ or the little round buns of Pitto ‘Golfball’.
I like helleborus in the early winter garden. We have cut the
big leaves off our orientalis or winter rose hybrids as the flowers are all budding
up will brighten up our whole garden. The nursery plants are starting to flower.
We leave the foliage on the spectacular corsicus and sterni types that flower
in later winter, spring and early summer. Corsicus has lovely lime green, cupped
flowers and serrated foliage forming 60cm to 80cm high x 60cm wide plants. The
pretty primroses are also showing signs of flowering soon.
I am
not sure if Derek enjoys the early winter garden as much as me. The pressure has
been on this year so the roses are pruned early and the place looks extra tidy.
The staff have been amazing and have stuck with me through a wonky period as I
am going to have my left hip replaced tomorrow. Life will be good again by early
spring. Unfortunately, every time I see Derek at the moment I hear myself saying
the same familiar words, “It’s got to go”. Poor man!
Kind regards
Doreen Higginson
See
www.nikauhill.co.nz
