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What a Year It’s Been!
Wow, what a year! After hitting the road for a New Zealand-wide rhodo road trip, it quickly showed important it is to start doing more of our own propagating. So, we sharpened our secateurs and got to work, beginning to collect material in February. Selecting cuttings was the quick part; preparing them, however, was a whole different story! It’s a labour of love, but it’s been well worth it as we’ve seen another successful season of propagation.
With all these new plants, we had to build another shade house for our growing-on lines. The construction has been a work in progress, and we were thrilled to finally put the plastic cover on in November. We can’t wait to share some of our new lines with you in the coming year as rhodos mature and are ready to thrive in your gardens. With over 400 varieties propagated, we’re confident there’s something for everyone, no matter where you are across the country!
Our display garden has been an especially rewarding project. It’s finally maturing, and I’ve had a blast creating art pieces for it in my spare time. Adding an office/shop space has been a game changer as well. Now, we can stay close to the nursery, keep things running smoothly behind the scenes, and even stock some rhododendron-related products that we’ve found useful. Plus, it gives us a warm, dry place to chat with you about your garden plans!
It’s always great to deepen our knowledge about these beautiful plants, continually refining our methods—whether it’s perfecting our potting mix or understanding the unique needs of each variety. We’re incredibly fortunate to have the support of experienced and retired rhododendron growers who are always up for a chat about rhododendrons. Their knowledge and skill have been instrumental in the success we’re seeing now. Who would have thought potting mix could be such a fascinating topic? They share countless trade secrets, from the best products to use to tips and tricks we’d never find online. These legends are like our personal Google!
Freight has been an ongoing challenge for us, especially with shipping plants to the North Island, as we depend on ferry schedules. But we’re always on the lookout for the most cost-effective and reliable shipping options. Despite the logistics, it’s incredibly rewarding to see our rhododendrons reach customers nationwide.
We’ve had an exceptional flowering season this year! The cold, dry winter brought us bold, strong colours across the South Island, and we expect the North Island had similar displays. Our early-flowering rhodos new growth did get a touch of frost at the end of October, but they’ll bounce back with vigour.
We want to take a moment to thank each of you who visited the nursery or placed an order online. Your support makes everything we do possible, and we’re grateful for the trust you place in us to bring these beautiful plants to your gardens. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and safe travels over the holiday season.
Warmest wishes,
Lisa and Steve