Now is the time to re-invent native planting. The 1980s saw what I like to call the ‘early period’ of native planting design. It was based on the ‘DoC Visitor Centre’ idiom – a bushy thicket of mixed vigorous shrubs and trees with a scattering of sedges or grasses at the edges – oh, and […]
Hawke’s Bay to host New Zealand Soil Carbon Conference The international spotlight will be on Hawke’s Bay when the NZ Soil Carbon Conference is held in Napier in June. Featuring international experts, renowned scientists and industry leaders, the three day conference will focus on the reality of climate change, biological farming and the huge global […]
“Thank you very much Meridian Energy – we now know the price of recognising conservation values on private land,” says Don Nicolson, Federated Farmers President. “Thousands of hectares of indigenous vegetation and outstanding landscapes have been protected on private land by district and regional plans under the guise of section 6 of the Resource Management […]
An Environment Court appeal by the Upland Landscape Protection Society, against TrustPower’s proposed 240 MW Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore, has been withdrawn. TrustPower now has two confirmed resource consents for two proposed wind farms in the South Island, the other being, and a 200 MW wind farm at Mahinerangi, close to TrustPower existing […]
Ever wonder where Monarch butterflies go for the winter? The Monarch Butterfly New Zealand Trust is looking for New Zealand ‘citizen scientists’ to report sightings, as the Monarchs follow their annual migration. A degree is not needed; anyone can take part, and everyone, schools included, are welcome to join the Trust’s annual project. Secretary Jacqui Knight […]
Conserving areas of bush and forest in cities is essential to the conservation of New Zealand’s wasp species, according to research from Victoria University. With more than 1,000 native species, wasps are an important part of New Zealand’s biodiversity says Dr Rudi Schnitzler. “Despite their fearsome reputation, very few wasps are capable of stinging humans; […]
Sustainability is a buzzword which permeates flower shows these days – and this year’s Ellerslie International Flower Show is no exception. Waterwise planting, water recycling, intelligent use of water, low-energy gardens and restoring soil nutrients are all key international garden trends and many of these concepts will be seen in two exhibition gardens at […]
Many beautiful gardens and public landscape plantings owe their success primarily to restricting the colours of flowers, fruits, stems and foliage within a limited, related range. This is sometimes known as colour themes. Some of the first examples of colour theme borders, especially of white flowers and grey and silvery foliage, were created in the […]
