Dale Harvey Quarter Acre Paradise

The lovely month of May often brings rather balanced and very good gardening weather right around the world. It brings the glories of High Spring to the Northern Hemisphere and often ushers in the early days of summer.

Although a lot of our treasured warm weather flowers will begin their long winter rest now this is no time for the gardener to sleep. Every lovely day counts now so try to complete all those jobs you didn’t get done earlier while the weather is still good.

Lovely Autumn leaves add a profound and unique contribution to the Autumn garden and landscape. Before the glorious sunny colours of the warm months fade away Nature will put on one final performance to celebrate the season passing.

First, of course, are the leaves. Leaves from most deciduous trees are one of the best natural sources of minerals for the compost pile. When burned, leaves supply only about 5% of their bulk weight as natural potash but the rest basically goes up in smoke.

The Japanese Windflower, Anemone x hybrida, is the showiest of the anemones and one of the world’s favourite perennials. This beautiful garden treasure is the hybrid result of many genetic crosses between the best of several wild species.

One of the most fragrant and delicate autumn flowering shrub is the Luculia. These fast growing Himalayan natives just love warmth and humidity but need a cool root run at all times. A good mulch helps achieve this while protecting them against drought and freezing.

Most people associate the azalea with spring garden colour but Auckland’s mild subtropical climate many azaleas start flowering in the autumn & continue to flower to some degree right through winter then put on their fabulous spring show for which they are so famous.

Crocus chrysanthus and related species are amongst the earliest minor bulbs to flower late winter early spring. Along side Winter Aconite, Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop), Chionodoxa luciliae (Glory-of- the-Snow) and Puschkinia scilloides (Striped Squill).

Many of the small, dainty Spring-Flowering bulbs known as "Minor Bulbs" like Aconite, Anemone species, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Crocus, Galanthus (the True Snowdrop) Squills, Babiana, Freesia, Homeria (Cape Tulip), Lachenalia, Sparaxis.

Autumn can be a glorious time of the year for colour in the garden. Shrubs like Cassia, Lasiandra, Vireya, Osmanthus, early Azalea & Camellias. Also included are late Roses, Abutilon, Loquat, Polygala, Lantana, Plumbago and much more are in full flower now.

Three minor bulbs are a Triple Treat playing a major part in creating a brilliant display in the spring garden. These minor bulbs include Freesia, Ixia, and Sparaxis. They are called minor bulbs because of their diminutive size and their delicate habit of growth.

Almost over looked and hidden amongst the giant world of flamboyant bulbs are some delightful tiny treasures. These are classified as "minor" bulbs. Some are true wildflowers while most are hybrid derivatives of wild species.

Muscari, the Grape Hyacinth, is an early flowering bulb with small flower spikes that resemble clusters of grapes on a stick. With over 40 species divided into four subgenera. The Botryanthus group includes most of the classic blue & purple species like M. armeniacum.

Ipheion, the Spring Star Flower, is a native of South America, mostly Argentina, highland Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. It is quite hardy to moderate cold and freezing weather. Will grow well in warm temperate & sub tropical climates when placed in cooler positions.

Lachenalia, "Soldier Boys" tiny South African lilies that love container life. Closely related to Hyacinths but most have no fragrance but make up for this with their vividly coloured flowers. Prefer light soils, perfect drainage, sun to partial shade and are frost tender.

Leucojum, known as the Snowflake, in form closely resembles a large and taller Snowdrop 18 inch - 50cm. Like Snowdrop, they bloom in late winter and early spring. But Leucojum will thrive in milder climates where Snowdrop will not grow.

Autumn is just beginning and it is already time to think ahead and begin planting Spring bulbs for the Spring garden. If planted now Spring bulbs will establish roots before Winter arrives giving them the longest period to grow and mature.

In the ancient garden world of Japan and China, Gardeners and Naturalists used to know exactly when true Autumn had arrived for that was the day the first Sasanqua Camellias burst into bloom. In fact, their name in Japanese is Sazanka.

Tropical rains sweeping in with the fading Summer heat have set the stage for the return of real gardening weather. As these moisture laden warm winds mix with the cooler air now returning, gentle and often generous rains follow.

Winter and Spring just wouldn’t be the same without the glorious colour and delicate charm of the flowering bulbs like classic yellow Daffodil, sweet Jonquils, exotic Narcissus, richly fragrant Hyacinths and the incomparable Tulips.

As winter approaches, most sensible people are settling in side where they can stay warm, cozy, and dry. Everyone that is except landscapers and devoted gardeners with the serious intent of doing things “right” in the garden .

New Zealand is truly known as a Gardeners Paradise. Both young and old New Zealanders often proudly nod knowingly when in conversation it is mentioned that New Zealand’s nickname is affectionately called ‘God Zone Garden Country'. 

Maybe the hippies were right: Flower-power is helping make the world a better place. Petunias are being planted by Sutton Park School on Vine St in Mangere to help improve the situ­ation of the crime-riddled street.

Many thanks to Manukau Courier Reporter Mr. Troels Summerville for covering the Pacific Steel Sutton Park School Project. I am just a consultant there to help coordinate and guide this united Community effort.

The Mangere East Neighbourhood Police Team started working in the Mangere East Area on the 28th of February 2011. Our team focuses on issues and concerns raised by the community and we work alongside the community to find long term solutions.

Dale revisits the Sutton Park Primary school and helps reinstate the very popular and successful School Gardening Project with great new sponsors Pacific Steel and with help from Housing New Zealand and the South Auckland Community Police.