Greetings!
Winter is here well and truly! A smattering of snow at the nursery in the weekend kindly reinforced the season. In this newsletter we will provide you with some winter colour to cheer up those gardens in the form of our new release Nandina 'Firepower'. We also introduce our 'What's Happening At The Nursery' and 'Out and About' segments. | |
Plant Of The Month
Looking for something different in your garden this month? Then try our recently released Nandina 'Firepower', which will brighten up any garden.
Nandina 'Firepower'
 For a truly spectacular ray of light in your garden when the winter chills are closing in on us, try this hot little number. Evergreen and compact, this dwarf Nandina has pale lime green and yellow leaves in summertime, which turn to a deep flaming red colour in autumn and retain these shades throughout the winter. If it was on a fashion catwalk it would truly standout, no accessories needed. Growing to a height of 60cm by 60cm, loving full sun and being hardy means this little number requires very little maintenance. Where space is a premium plant this one in a container, or in a larger space, plant in cluster for effect. With its standout foliage colour try planting alongside dark foliage plants such as Euphorbia 'Tui' or Phormium 'Black Rage' for true contrast. This 'Hot n Dry' Solutionz is now available in garden centres. For more information on Nandina 'Firepower' and planting ideas click here. |
What's Happening At The Nursery!
Have you ever wondered how plants grow, how long does it take for them to be ready for sale, what facilities do plant nurseries provide to ensure healthy and happy plants and what is the process in order for them to be ready for sale? Well here goes! Every month I will provide you with an insight into our nursery happenings and I can tell you now, there simply won't be enough months in the year.
 My name is Greg Kitson and I am the Managing Director of Ambrosia Nurseries Ltd, in Christchurch, New Zealand. I took over this business in 1987 and have built a facility of size and quality to the envy of many other collegues. I am married with two wonderful children and a beautiful wife (guess I have to say that), live next door and enjoy a big garden which we share with many good friends and where we have endless amounts of fun.
Over a period of years I have shown many people and groups through our business, giving an overview into operating one of New Zealand's leading Nurseries. More recently, one of our staff, whilst present at one of my guided tours was astonished at what, why and how we do things and expressed a genuine interest. Therefore I've thought this newsworthy and it gives me a wealth of continual and fresh content from which I can write about. From the history, the size, the staff, the facility, our customers, our products, our achievements, our problems and our future. Next month I shall look into the archives and bring out some history over two decades and bring you uptodate to 2008. |
Out And About
Recently my wife Chris and I had the good fortune of travelling to Europe on business. On a stopover in London we caught up with good friends who hosted us on a tour of the city. Being Chris's first time she was overwhelmed to see all the common sights of London like Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London etc. Being a second home to me in my young adult deliquency years, I trotted along being unusually patient. However, my friend who now works in New Zealand House did show us through the embassy. This photograph of the Cordyline Red Stars was taken in the central foyer.
From there we walked through St James Park then on up to the New Zealand War Memorial just outside of Hyde Park. As you can see each column is black, with history attached to each. All have the shape of the Southern Cross on top and point towards 'home', New Zealand. |
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Winners From Our Previous Newsletter
The winner from last months newsletter was Millie Thomas from Auckland. She won a Gardening Solutionz Euphorbia 'Tui'. Hope you have found a good spot for the Euphorbia in your garden Millie!  The other winner was A Todd from Christchurch who won a Loropetalum 'China Pink' by entering our website competition.
Congratulations to you both! | |
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Next time - look out for a feature on surviving the winter chills, frost hardy Gardening Solutionz plants, out and about in Spain, news and advice for your garden ............. |
From the team at Gardening Solutionz
www.gardeningsolutionz.co.nz
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Competition!
If you would like to win a Gardening Solutionz Nandina 'Firepower' enter here to go in the draw
TO WIN
(Terms and Conditions apply)
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Gardening
'Solutionz'
If you have any gardening questions you would like answered - please contact us. This weeks question is: Question: I have purchased some Griselina plants as per landscape plan. However I am concerned with where we are to plant them in terms of space required. According to "notes" attached to plants, they grow to 3 metres high and 2 metres wide. On your website it says 2 metres high and 1 metre wide. Can you let us know why the difference? as it will determine if we plant them where specified or not. Thank you, DAnswer: Hi D, Many thanks for your e-mail. I too have now had a look at a number of different websites and have noticed a significant variable in the size that Griselina Broadway Mint is to achieve. On our labels we say 2 metres by 1 metres - being an achieveable plant size within 3 years of planting and providing a wonderful hedge that at 2 metres will also provide privacy etc. Griselina can in fact grow taller and wider, but we would suggest that being kept trimmed to 2 metres by 1 metre approximately makes for a thick and practical hedge. I hope this helps for your planting plan and if we can be of further assistance, please do not hestiate to contact us. |
For care of your Gardening Solutionz plants we recommend Tui garden care products. For more information click here
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