Monthly Archives: April 2010

Mark came again and we finished the ha-ha path except for a small stretch that needs mulch applied to it. Quiet afternoon.

Weather:8°C—25°C; no rain [82.6]

More progress with the ha-ha path and also Karola and I assembled some cages for autumn leaves just inside the Front paddock next to the old wooden gate.

Mike Croucher (Garden Groom) came and mowed the lawns.

Three chicks down to two now but they’re venturing outside the mandarin Chook House which means I won’t have to provide food and water inside for much longer.

Weather:11°C—25°C; no rain [83.0]

Mark came round and we continued work on the ha-ha path; only another couple of mornings before we finish it I think. While he laid the edging planks I cleared the pathway of living matter and when that was done I cut down a dead maple that Karola has been insisting needed felling for years. It was four metres or so high and the initial task was to go up in the Fergie bucket and, with a pruning saw, cut off the upper branches as high up as possible – to stop them falling and damaging other trees or the ha-ha. At full stretch of the Fergie’s bucket that was quite exciting. We also attached ropes to ensure what did come down went into a relatively harmless place.

Weather:7°C—23°C; no rain [83.5]

Karola penned up the lambs and we drenched five of them: #915E, #946E, #947E, #927R and a ram lamb newly without a tag – will have to find out which one when next we do a full stocktake. They were drenched with 3mm Scadia (meat withholding of ten days).

The lambs have been fenced into a small section of the Orchard paddock, being retrained for electric fence prior to some months in the orchard proper. We set up a connector link from the pump shed along the Taupata fence, crossing the gates 3 metres above the ground and going along side the fences until it reached the Orchard paddock. The lambs have been fenced into a piece of the Orchard paddock behind two electric fences separated by a couple of metres. We’re hoping that any adventurous lamb which ducks through the first fence will still be retained by the second.

Mark Hendery came round after dark to shoot rabbits.

Weather:9°C—21°C; 0.7 mm rain [82.6]

We shopped in Hastings after visiting Enid and Laurie McDermott who’d looked after the sheep and chooks etc while we were away. After lunch I went up to Touchwood Books and collected Bicka from Graham and Tracey’s care. Bicka was overjoyed to see me despite having thoroughly enjoyed her little holiday with Henry and Jess and the farm dogs.

The three chicks are still thriving and a white bantam is now sitting in the old goat house. The ewes and ram have been let into the Totara paddock after spending most of the day in the Goose Enclosure eating acorns.

Weather:12°C—24°C; no rain [?]

A wealthy financier American has bought nine kilometers of New Zealand coastline, the spot where Captain Cook first landed in New Zealand, called Young Nick’s Head after the young man on duty in the crows nest when he first sighted land. The wealthy American has spent, and is spending, large amounts to convert a bleak and barren coastal strip into natural bush, wetlands, beaches and two profitable beef farms and a citrus orchard.

We headed out for Young Nick’s Head in two buses. The buses took up through the extensive earthmoving and planting for the reconstructed freshwater and saltwater wetlands and nearly to a secluded beach. Here we heard of the history of the purchase and what had been achieved in the few years it’d been under redevelopment. Then, a walk to the beach and admiration of the 10,000s of native trees planted in the last year or so.

We returned towards Gisborne, stopping for lunch at a winery, returning to the conference rooms and listening to an enjoyable lecture by Dan Hinkley about his new garden overlooking Puget Sound in Seattle. From there we set off for Hastings, reaching Napier in about 2½ hours and having a quick dinner at the Westshore Fish Cafe en route to Oak Avenue as darkness fell.

Weather:8°C—23°C; no rain [?]

Carrying on the NZ Gardens Trust trip, which continued on from the IDS Hawkes bay trip that finished last Wednesday, Karola went to a lecture and then we followed the buses out to the Eastwoodhill Arboretum, the New Zealand national arboretum. Once there we had morning tea and a very good introduction by the current curator, Paul Wynen. Paul is an experienced and expert arborist, not a botanist or ecologist so his approach was a contrast with earlier talks. He explained his own background, the background of the Eastwoodhill plantings and owners, and then the planning they were doing to guide the arboretum for the next 100 years.

The arboretum comprises several distinct watersheds containing many steep hills and the long term plan is to gradually replant for the succession to the current mature trees and to have a different geographic emphasis for each watershed so that in decades to come each one would approximate the native forest foliage of different countries. This is in stark contrast to the plantings at Washpool, Gwavas, Hackfalls and so on where overall the plantings are haphazard groupings of plants that took the planters fancy and filled a gap in the existing plantings, without much of a theme.

We had lunch at the arboretum, returning to Gisborne where Karola went to a lecture by USA plantsman Dan Hinkley and later another lecture by Margaret Barker who not only owns and operates Larnach Castle in Dunedin but is NZ president for the IDS.

Weather:12°C—24°C; no rain [?]

A free day for us and we took a look around Gisborne. Although it’s quite small (40,000 people) and very isolated it had tourist shops and amenities a bit like Napier and two very long sandy beaches. We browsed and bought in the famous old bookshop calls Muir’s Bookshop. Books, good and staff friendly and helpful; upstairs coffee shop fairly ordinary though with a good view of the main street from their balcony. Then it was the Museum, an unexpectedly interesting permanently exhibition of: The Treaty of Waitangi; seafaring days of old; and current Gisborne artists.

We had lunch at the museum and then went to Waikanae beach and, across the river, to Wainui beach. Late afternoon we went up onto the clifftops and gazed out from Cook’s Lookout.

The evening was a long dinner at the Marina restaurant with many of the IDS people including Lady Anne and Bob Berry and Fiona and John Wills, and of course Peter and Diane Arthur. Long but quite enjoyable.

Weather:6°C—23°C; no rain [?]

We set off in our car at about 10:00 am for Gisborne via the back road from Wairoa with a stop planned at Hackfalls Arboretum, created by Bob and lady Anne Berry. A very pleasant drive through Hawkes Bay back country and we arrived not long after the bus which left Napier at 8:30 am (allegedly). After lunch on the hilltop lawn we wandered slowly round one of the hectare-sized lakes with its planting of mature trees, well spaced, with grass ground cover and sheep.

We got to our hotel in Gisborne, the Portside Hotel, in time to hear a lecture on biodiversity by Dr Keith Hammett and have a steak meal at the “Lone Star” restaurant.

Weather:1°C—21°C; 0.1 mm rain [?]

Off to Gwavas arboretum on route 50 for a delightful and tranquil morning wandering around the tree-strewn slopes below the house. Began with morning tea and ended with a cold collation lunch – and “gluten-free” was specifically catered for at each event. Tranquil except for the undertones of sparring between experts on the precise name of various trees and the mad scramble for fruit and seeds – anything that might conceivably grow “back home”, wherever the dendrologist might hale from. As it transpired the party comprised only New Zealand IDS members from the north and south islands. Michael Hudson was our guide; Carola Hudson and their daughter and son-in-law also mingled.

In the afternoon we visited a regenerating bush, A’Deane Bush, with tall tall white pine, rimu, totara, NZ honeysuckle, and matai, including one huge Totara maybe 400 years old. Possums are strictly controlled and the undergrowth is vigorous, unlike any bush where possums are allowed free rein. Next door we visited John and Irene White’s Sentry Hill, a garden with another large planting of trees, a long term labour of love.

Took Bicka up to Touchwood Books where Tracey and Graham will look after her for the next four days. Peter Arthur and Diane are also coming up to Gisborne on the gardening part of the guided tour being followed by most of the dendrologists on this trip.

Weather:5°C—22°C; 0.1 mm rain [81.5]

Same format as yesterday; cold and with mist around 8:00 am but then turning into glorious sunshine later on.

We went out to the Glazebrook’s off route 50, called Washpool and spent the morning wandering through acres of specimen trees – trees, a small river, lots of vegetation, quite relaxing. Karola chatted with Judy Glazebrook and her daughter who, with her husband, now run the farm. Chris Ryan was our guide. Lunch at the Red Rooster on Omahu road and then the bus brought the IDS party here. They obviously enjoyed themselves with their walk round Karamu – Peter Ormond gave a brief introduction and Gary Clapperton guided the tour, he being a well known arboretum keeper of many years. Peter Arthur administered the event with charm and competence. Karola carried on with the party to Frimley Park where the guide was again Gary Clapperton; Bicka and I stayed at home. All in all a very successful day.

Weather:4°C—23°C; no rain [81.9]

Nasty start to the day; cold and overcast and threatening rain. By lunchtime it was glorious blue sky, gentle breezes and warm in the sun.

Karola went off quite early on the first Dendrologist trip – to Trellino, a large garden of trees open to the public way up the Napier-Taupo road, the home of John and Fiona Wills. The group of 20 or so travelled by bus from Napier, returning around 5:30 pm. Karola came back and we set off for a meal with the dendrologists at the Te Pania hotel – food was good but $50 a head when I’d much rather have had something Karola cooked at home. Oh well.

Weather:4°C—23°C; no rain [82.0]

Another beautiful day.

The lambs got out of the Front paddock into the Totara paddock, either because one of them bunted the chain at just the right angle, or because someone was prowling around last night and left the gate off the chain. The little gate near the Chinese Photinea was also open so I suspect the latter. All sheep were counted, present and correct.

Karola bought some trees: Jacaranda for her and for Bridget and three Magnolias. Otherwise a quiet day.

Weather:4°C—20°C; 0.2 mm rain [81.7]

Late morning we went to the local (Taradale) Coeliac Food Fair. Some good, some less so. karola spent the rest of the day weeding furiously round the circle out the front of the Homestead, not, as she tells me firmly, for her dendrologist visitors next week but in order to get it down to grass this autumn.

Weather:4°C—20°C; no rain [81.8]

Murray Cranswick came this morning and applied 400 kg of lime with a touch of sulphur to the 4 acres comprising the Front, One-Acre, and orchard paddocks. Meanwhile we accidentally mixed up the sheep and had to draft them out again, all the time keeping a firm eye on “piglet”. Then I forgot to shut a gate and the lambs went out into the orchard; Jeff Drinkwater put them back so no harm done.

Weather:1°C—18°C; no rain [82.3]

Much sitting around and just soaking up the sun – clear blue skies etc. Karola and I put in a post on the east side of the 121 drieve-way entrance to hold the USA-style letter box with our names and 121 number on it plus the word “Entrance”. It’s to make finding the wider new 121 drive easier for visitors and trades-people. Karola got some quick-set concrete and the post is now in.

Still three little chicks, two yellow, one black.

Weather:12°C—25°C; no rain [81.7]

Another wonderful Hawkes bay winter’s day. My cold still persisting and nothing done outside today apart from luxuriating in the hammock on the balcony.

Murray Cranswick plans to come and spread the fertiliser on Friday.

Weather:7°C—24°C; no rain [81.4]

Bill Nicholson (Hatuma Lime Ltd) came round this afternoon and gave us his firm’s take on how to improve pastures by aiming to improve the soil environment of microbes, fungi, earthworms etc. We will probably go ahead with his recommendation to apply 640kg of Hatuma GenerateS – a mix of lime and a little sulphur – now and an application of Hatuma dicalcic phosphate with 10% sulphur in the spring. We may not oversow at all this autumn; leave it to the fertiliser and see what happens. We’ll probably ask Murray Cranswick – Small Farm Services (027-441-6697) to spread the fertiliser.

Meanwhile Ken Thomas and his wife came around again and chainsawed themselves up a small trailer-load of oak firewood.

Weather:11°C—22°C; 1.7 mm rain [81.4]

Tired of geese wandering around the back door, a trick they perfected recently involving ducking under the bottom wire of their fence, I earthed in the stretches of fence that offered a gap wide enough to fit a goose. We shall see if that works; of course if sufficiently motivated they can fly out anyway, but I hate the shoe inspection needed every time I go outside the back door.

Two yellow chicks today and I succumbed and gave them chick food and water.

Wood turner Ken Thomas came this afternoon and cut up some of the recently fallen large oak branch for firewood.

Bill Nicholson of Hartuma Lime Ltd in Waipukurau is to come and discuss the fertiliser needs of our Front paddock tomorrow (06-858-8882 or 027-442-4103).

Weather:4°C—22°C; 0.1 mm rain [81.9]

Cool but sunny and Bridget left with the two grand daughters early afternoon for Wellington leaving behind more good ideas re the cottage.

Weather:2°C—19°C; 0.1 mm rain [81.9]

Karola, Bridget at al went out on a shopping expedition for much of the day. One of the 14 eggs being warmed by two of the bantam hens has hatched but I don’t give much for its chances at this time of year. Monarch chrysalids, 8 and one caterpillar but these too are in doubt as the night temperatures drop.

Lots more discussion about the cottage.

Weather:2°C—20°C; 0.1 mm rain [82.0]

So now I have Alex’s cold brought up specially from Wellington. More discussions re the cottage and lunch again at Pernel’s Fruit World. The afternoon broke into beautiful sunshine though it was still cold.

Weather:3°C—19°C; no rain [81.4]

Cold and still a little rain. Karola and I went to Murray Wilson’s funeral in Taradale – he was 83 and is a cousin of Karola’s – brother to one of Karola’s oldest friends, Hilary Haylock. Bridget cooked us a meal for tonight and another ready for tomorrow. The amended cottage plans arrived by e-mail and we spent the evening discussing them.

Weather:5°C—15°C; 1.8 mm rain [81.3]

Beautiful rain overnight; clearing during the day. Bridget and I had a chat with the architects helping us with the cottage. We all had lunch at Pernel’s Fruit World. Late afternoon I put up a bit of electric fence and let the ewes and rams (not the lambs) into the Totara paddock. They raced about and jumped for joy, silly sheep.

Weather:8°C—17°C; 0.3 mm rain [80.7]

It’s only drizzled very lightly for 24 hours and the ground is still mainly dry so as Karola suggested I mowed the orchard paddock – with difficulty as the grass was so long – but it’s done and now, down comes the real rain. Excellent timing.

That was the morning and in the afternoon Bridget arrived with daughters Natalie and Alex. Anna texted to say she’d got back to Ealing from her holiday with her two boys in Switzerland.

Weather:10°C—15°C; 13.6 mm rain [80.3]

Slight drizzle off and on all day. Geoff and Felicity set off for Wellington mid morning.

Weather:7°C—16°C; 0.6 mm rain [80.6]

Geoff and I did some mowing – the Middle and Totara paddocks with lunch in between. We all then took Bicka for a walk along the Napier foreshore. Patrick and Lis joined us for dinner cooked by Karola.

It’s the first Sunday in the month so the computer backups are due to be done today.

Weather:13°C—24°C; 2.8 mm rain [81.3]

After a leisurely breakfast Geoff and I went a-mowing. I did a pass round the edge and Geoff did the rest. We did the Front paddock, One Acre paddock and Island paddock. It’s possible it’ll rain tomorrow.

Late afternoon Patrick and Lis Coney called in for afternoon tea.

The cluster flies seem less prevalent today; Felicity is talking of going back upstairs tonight, instead of another fly-free night on the living room floor.

Weather:6°C—25°C; no rain [81.1]

Checked the ewes with piglet this morning; all present and correct.

Mowed the goose enclosure and a whole lot of blackberry between the new (121) drive and the road.

Felicity and Geoff Rashberooke arrived for dinner. They (and we) were a little dismayed to find that the cluster flies have returned en masse and so they are sleeping downstairs tonight.

Weather:4°C—23°C; 0.1 mm rain [80.6]

Mark and I finished the part of the mulch path up to where it went out of sight behind the shrubbery. In the afternoon I went down to see Les Clapcott and his draughtsman Brett in Mahora and we discussed the latest drawings and I returned with plan, elevation and some “fly by” pictures for us to mull over.

The wool fadge of sheeps entrails were still there when I went down to see Les but had gone when I returned.

Meanwhile Karola is ferocious in her weeding and cleaning and reorganising, apart from a trip to Hastings to pick up her new Puma glasses with bifocal transition lenses that turn black in sunlight – very high tech, very expensive.

Weather:4°C—24°C; no rain [80.4]