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Well, my wet dreams came true!!! I collected 88 mils of rain in the gauge last weekend, the majority of it (70 mil) fell in peaceful bounty from the sky, gently at first, then with more intensity for a bit....

The weather forecast is looking promising for the start of 2018, offering a week of Northerly rain and showers. Welcome would be the understatement of the season if it eventuates. Moisture levels in the garden and on the farm are...

In November it is a great time to "play" in the garden. Don't get me wrong, there is so much to do there is definitely no time to play, but play I do...first there is the constant up close looking that...

I'm finding it hard to get much done in the garden this week...not because of the weather, which has been my idea of perfect (some sun, some light rain, some cloud, not too much wind), ...but because every time I...

Folks, it's officially that time of year again...ROSE TIME!!! The earliest species are finishing up, the Banksias and Laevigata have put on a great show, Ecae is still glorious. The David Austins have been producing a few "can't wait for...

spring bulbs everywhere   Warm sun, hail, gale force wind ,torrential rain ,bright sun.... the current weather patterns currently in vogue on any single day. It must be Spring I guess! There is lushness starting to happen both wanted and...

Winter is drawing to a close, sighs of relief all round. We've had some lovely and some mean weather this last week, but it's all felt like Spring rather than winter. Everything in the garden thinks so too, the roses...

Thornless roses? The thing roses are possibly the most famous for, other than their beauty and perfume, is their evil thorns. They are often the first thought amongst non rose lovers and put a lot of people off growing them...

Well, it's here...July and real Winter. It's cold and wet and muddy, many of the roses have closed down, excepting those that refuse to say die...the Teas and Chinas bloom on, I noticed some Hybrid Perpetuals this evening still making...

Less than a week till the winter solstice! I strongly believe it heralds the start of winter, season wise, but for me, the worst of winter is the speed with which the sun races across the sky (despite Maui's efforts...

The seasons seem to be continuing in their confused and chaotic order.2 good frosts last week, followed immediately by positively balmy nights and warm days again. Whatever the weather, the days are drawing in daily and the winter solstice is...

May 1st today and someone must have reminded the boss, as the wet but warm autumn has turned into approaching winter temperatures overnight. Winter woollies out of the cupboard and I think a hottie will be required tonight. The last...

lush autumn growth happening amongst the david austins wife of bath producing exquisite autumn flowers March is over. Not really your average March, but then we don't live in an average country! Much rain fell in March and with temperatures...

I suppose you should expect it in February...but there was last wonderful summer when it rained every couple of weeks and everything kept growing like spring time. As usual with the weather it's pay back time... Dead lawn and giant...

Weiti sherry appeared around 2010 One of the fun things about rose gardening is that over time seedlings start to appear in the garden from hips which have  fallen or been eaten by birds and expelled. Immediately you can see what...

new buds on "once flowerer"la ville de bruxelles ...the buds are getting fat. Not the usual story for Christmas in my experience. More like the rose bushes are all looking tired and shagged out after a long squawk! ( Pardon...

high view of the early david austins in early november Well up in the North Waikato we've managed to avoid the terrible earth shaking many of the folk around NZ have had to endure, but we haven't exactly had a...

the top of the old fashioned border The garden is reaching it's peak this week. The old fashioneds are mostly in full swing, with quantities of gorgeous antique shaded roses flinging their bounty about and filling the air with a...

David Austin collection Freshly mulched David Austins in the Wagon Wheel Garden Freshly mulched David Austins in the Wagon Wheel Garden Spring arrivals We are reaching completion of the David Austin Collection garden. Last week we had a flurry of...

I'm sure all old rose collectors end up with some mysteries.  You know, you buy a carefully selected and labelled specimen and when it flowers it becomes obvious that this rose is not the one you expected.  Sometimes it takes...