Winter has crept in with its usual mix of cold southerlies and confusing subtropical spells. Some trees have shed their leaves completely, while others are still hanging on.
Corten steel stag sculpture by Aaron Gamble on the Conifer Green
This is the time of year when we put the garden to bed, cutting back herbaceous plants, crown-lifting trees and repairing lawn patches. We’re also planting sun-loving South African species like Leucospermum on the dry banks above the tennis court and beginning a new project to link the formal plantings around the house with the entrance using shaped native corokias.
A few large trees have also been removed, including a Magnolia acuminata that had lost its battle for light with a stunning stand of rimu. Clearing it has allowed the rimus to thrive once more. Similarly, our tired old hydrangeas on the driveway are being replaced with more sun-tolerant varieties in an open layout that now reveals unexpected views across the garden to the river.
We’re also planning ahead. A grass labyrinth is in the works for the River Flat, with the goal of opening it in time for World Labyrinth Day in May 2026, a global event inviting people to “Walk as One at 1” for peace and reflection.
In the meantime, we hope you’ve got dry firewood stacked and enjoy a warm and restful Matariki with your whānau.