Arty Farty - The Winter Garden - a potentially dangerous state of affairs ...

Written in 2010 -Soon after arriving home from India... This morning in Pukerua Bay we are enjoying a 'refreshing' southerly blast. This wee breeze is coming from the Antarctic via the fresh snow which fell in the South Island yesterday - all 75cm of it. Brrrrr. Hence today's decision to stay inside and write about my garden rather than work in it.

I've been home from India for 8 weeks and have leaped head first back into my garden with unbridled glee. On the days when it has been too wet or cold, my Fibro or Geri's masto has prevented me from working outside I have planted myself in my window seat and tried to organise a brain which is overflowing with ideas. I have ideas sprouting left, right and centre which is exciting but at the same time a little daunting and very dangerous as I have decided to redesign many areas of the garden and am in scheming and plotting overload!

But before I show you what I'm up to let's take a moment to ponder just how gorgeous a winter garden can be. Even in the depths of winter; when one expects there to be little to admire or find joy in, there are gems to be found.

Tecomanthe speciosa

When I arrived home my Tecomanthe vines were flowering. They have hinted that they might flower over the last fews years, but I've never been home to witness it. These vines flower in mid winter and as I've made quite an effort to avoid visiting home during Wellington's winter whilst living overseas, it is little wonder that I haven't managed to catch them at it.

The Tecomanthe is a rare beastie indeed so it is an extra treat to have it flowering in my garden. This vine was found on Great King Island in the Three King Island group (some of NZ's off shore islands) in the 1940s. The specimen; discovered by Prof. Bayliss of Otago University, was the sole  remaining plant in the world. Luckliy it propogates fairly readily and is now growing with great vigour in many NZ gardens. It loves my garden because it is pretty close to the plants original home in regard to growing conditions. In fact it is so happy here that it can be a trifle too triffid-like at times! Anyway, as you can see the flowers are really quite beautiful and are a welcome addition to the local Tui population as a source of winter nectar.

Clianthus puniceus

Another native plant that flowers from mid winter through to late spring is the Kaka Beak. This showey customer is also endangered in the wild but is grown in many gardens these days so is safe from extinction. These guys can be pretty picky about their growing conditions but seem happy enough where I have them located for now. However their apple cart is about to be upset as the bed they are occupying is soon going to be redeveloped and the Kaka Beaks won't fit with the new colour scheme. Not to worry tho, they'll be moving upstairs to the top garden where I have a few gaps to fill. Hopefully they won't decide to sulk... or worse!

Fuchsia triphylla

Although not a native, this fuchsia is doing pretty well in the garden even though I've not been home to keep an eye on it. It is about to be relocated upstairs to the top garden as well, however I don't think it will be as upset about moving as the Kaka Beak might (will) be. I'll just give it a good haircut and let it get on with it.

Last but not least, we have another precious NZ native plant. This one originates from the Chatham Islands and is simply magnificent. It won't be in flower for another month or so yet, but even so its form is so striking that I think it rates a mention. This plant can be difficult to grow but if you get the spot right and it decides it likes its location it just thrives. This group is in one of the beds that I am redeveloping but lucky for them they work in with the new colour scheme so they can stay put. In fact, I love them so much that I have designed the colour scheme around them!

Lunch awaits ... as do the seed and nursery catalogues.