Commercial Horticulture October 2006
Latest News and Features

Trees to be chopped in Queen Street
Auckland City Council plans to cut down 70 trees and plant 95 new 5 metre tall liquidambars interplanted with natives. along Auckland's Queen Street, between Wellesley and Customs streets, as part of the $41 million Queen Street upgrade.

Begonia takes pride of place
Begonia Bonfire, the New Zealand prize-winning garden plant was a star of the show at this year's Ryder Cup golf tournament in Ireland. Developed by ornamental scientists at Crop & Food Research and winner of the Merite Award at France's Courson 2005 garden show Bonfire was introduced to the New Zealand market about six years ago and to Australia in the last three years.

New Chelsea show manager appointed
New Show manager of the Chelsea Flower Show is Alex Baulkwill. Alex has BSc Honours in Horticulture from Reading University and spent a year working at Savill and Valley Gardens as part of her degree.

'Pohutukawa and Rata' author wins book award
Phillip Simpson was awarded first place in the Environment category of the Montana New Zealand Book Awards recently, for his excellent, lavishly-illustrated book "Pohutukawa and Rata, New Zealand's Iron-Hearted Trees."

Optimism marks Spring start
"Spirits lift as hint of Spring gets the shoppers moving" -. Kerry Johnstone talks to the trade and finds most retailers to be more confident, positive and optimistic than they have been for some months. Check out what retailers are doing and saying in our October issue of Comm Hort.

IPPS Conference plans well underway
IPPS plans begin to take shape for 36th International Plant Propagators Annual Conference from 26-29 April 2007 at the Quality Hotel - Plymouth International. It Bus trips to Mt Egmont, Pukekura Park, Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust garden and a cruise around the Sugarloaf Islands Marine Park figure on the programme.

Oderings generosity benefits prisoners and mission
Vegetables from plants and seed donated by Oderings of Christchurch for offenders at Rolleston Prison's Kia Marama unit to grow for Christchurch City Mission food bank will soon be delivered to the Mission's night shelter, food bank and detox house. The 15 or so offenders are putting something back into the community and learning valuable skills.

Natives attract birds
The Auckland Regional Council is keen to ensure people are aware of the value of planting natives to attract bird life into gardens. ARC's Plant Me Instead booklet and Welcoming Wildlife pamphlet gives people ideas on what plants to use.

Worker crisis despite increase
Horticulture NZ believes a shortage of seasonal workers in the horticultural industry will hit crisis point even though the Government's national labour strategy last year provided for 4000 temporary seasonal work permits, a number which has already been extended.

First Nextgen NZ meeting
Nextgen NZ, a group aimed at educating and encouraging people of 35 years or younger who are in the nursery or garden industry, held its first meeting at the Auckland Showgrounds on 22 August. The group elected its first organising committee. More on this topic in the October issue of Comm Hort.

More money to eradicate varroa
Following the discovery of the Varroa bee mite in Nelson in February/March this year, the Government has decided to put $3.2 million over the next four years into managing it in the South Island.

Industry stalwarts farewelled
Obituaries for long-serving trade identities and innovators Trevor Bayliss of Bayliss nurseries Sid Desborough of Levin. Both men have served the industry well.

Australians suffering water shortage
Water, or rather the lack of it, is a major issue for the Australian industry. Many areas are locked into water restrictions because of the low dam levels and the situation is only expected to get worse.

Nursery moves to water
Water has become a major issue for the nursery industry in Australia, so some nurseries are relocating to be near wastewater. Bannink Nursery tells the story in this month's issue

Mike Skegg new ceo NGINA
Mike Skegg, now ceo of the Nursery and Garden Industry of New South Wales and Act, will be remembered by many in the New Zealand garden trade as ceo of Yates from 1982-1989.

NGIA Australia launches advertising campaign
The Nursery and Garden Industry Association of Australia has launched a nationwide $A350,000 advertising campaign to give the Australian gardening industry a boost.

Chelsea garden to be recreated at EFS
Xanthe White will re-create her 100% Pure New Zealand Garden, which won a coveted Silver Gilt award at the Chelsea Flower Show in May, for the 2006 Ellerslie International Flower Show in November.

Furcrea transplanted at Quarry
Whangarei Quarry Gardens has become the new home for five large Furcraea bedinghausii. The 25-year-old plants were originally at Mander Park.

White Romance launched
Tesselaars launches new floribunda rose, White Romance, bred by Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses. It has masses of white, double, highly fragrant flowers, and a long flowering period from Spring to Autumn. See Comm Hort October issue

New owner for Kenza Plants
Just over three months after taking over Kenza Plants (formerly Kenza Farms) at Kumeu, Carol Taylor is enjoying the life and the challenge and says she is learning something new every day.

Big wins for Palmers Welcome Bay
Palmers Garden World in Welcome Bay, Tauranga, were "absolutely thrilled" to learn they had won the double: Palmers Store of the Year and the Palmers Mystery Shopper Awards.

Eat those vegies
Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and water cress contain compounds which can help to kill cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy, say University of Otago researchers. It is not however advised to eat large quantities of the raw vegetables because the particular compounds need to be extracted to be properly effective.

New owners for Selwyn Grove
At the end of September, after 12 years in the business, Rob Parker and Jenny Chater handed over their Selwyn Grove nursery at Brookside near Leeston in Canterbury to Steve and Tracy Nesbitt.

And new owners for new-named Pixham nursery
Jeroen and Anne Jens are the new owners of Pixham Nursery, Tauranga, formerly owned by Gemma Currin and then called Plants for Passions.

ABG building up sculpture exhibits
The Auckland Botanic Gardens is aiming to become known as a "sculpture park" as it progressively builds a collection of significant New Zealand art.

Landscape award for Queensland designer
Landscape designer Ralf Kruger of Greenbelt has been awarded the Living Earth and Central Landscape Supplies 2006 Landscape of the Year Award by the Landscape Industries Association for his stunning native garden on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. See pics and story in October's Comm Hort.

New members on NGIA board
Peter Worsp (Terra Viva) and Roger Milne (Milnes Consultancy) were elected to Board at the AGM. Peter Fraser is the new vice president..

New premises for NGIA
NGIA moving to new office space in Victoria Street, Wellington.

NGIA submissions on Wai2
NGIA has filed a detailed submission to the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of the industry to refute Maori claims to indigenous flora and fauna an important issue fro the industry.

Labels to identify eco-sourced plants
Hamilton City Council has initiated the creation of labels which can be used to identify plants that have been sourced from a particular area.

Horticultural Symposium a success
The first Horticulture Education and Training Symposium held at Lincoln University in mid-August has been pronounced a resounding success. See report in October's Comm Hort.

Water deprivation makes tougher plants
HortResearch trials show water deprivation during production makes miniature roses more tolerant of adverse conditions later.


October Features
Personality Profile - Ray Holland
After more than 45 years in the nursery trade, 33 of them with one company, this nurseryman says his love of horticulture has never waned. Ray was deeply involved in the relocation of Zealandia Nursery in Christchurch. More fresh, keen blood needed in the industry, he says. See October Comm hort.

Mauways Nursery
Run by Wayne and Maureen Healey takes its plants to its customers, attending more than 150 shows per year. For more on this aspect and other facets of this Hunterville nursery, read Comm Hort's October issue.

Blueskin Nurseries
This popular garden centre is run by the enthusiastic andcheerful Clare Brown who focuses on great presentation of stock, great customer service. She and her staff enjoy meeting people and talking with her customers many of whom have become good friends.

Plant - Phormium
Third part of our phormium series. We take a look at how phormiums are being used in landscaping, amenity plantings, and hear some retailer views on this tough New Zealand native. Read more on phormium in this month's issue and catch up in August and September issues.

John Stanley
"It is not about the Paint - it's about the Strategy" There's more to successful retailing than a lick of paint and a row of plants.

Review - Blumhardt biography
In our book review section this month, Peter Arethur reviews 'Oswald Blumhardt - New Zealand Plant Pioneer' by Catherine Ballard. Os Blumhardt was internationally recognised as a leading plantsman and plant breeder.

Above is a synopsis of articles printed in one issue of Commercial Horticulture - Magazine of the Nursery Industry.

For information on Commercial Horticulture, including subscribing, please visit the Comm Hort Feature Page.