I would like to welcome Bill Howard as a guest blogger to Landscape Juice.
Bill move himself and his family to New Zealand in 2005 and mentions that the challenges are no less challenging wherever you may live.
"So much for the longest day or as it was in your case the shortest.
As the Northern winter bites, you will be pleased to hear that the weather isn’t perfect in our Southern Summer.
On Saturday we had 100mm of rain with no glimpse of the sun and on Sunday nearly an overnight frost. That said today, Tuesday, as I write from Oxford (New Zealand), the sun has just hit the eastern slopes of the Southern Alps about 10kms away, it’s as clear as a bell and due to be 28 degrees.
Apparently we had a particularly long wet winter, I rapidly assure the Kiwis that tell me this that, until they have sat through a few British winters they don’t know what overcast and damp is. And how long it can go on. 3 Days without sun here and they’re wringing their hands – try 3 weeks mate – or do I mean months!
And that I suppose is the major climatic difference that I notice – the generally incredible light quality and clear blue skies. Even the clearest of summer days in UK doesn’t compare to an average blue sky here. However, you have to remember that in the centre of the South Island, I am on similar latitude to Marseilles. Auckland compares with Southern Spain and Athens.
From a Horticultural point of view we reap benefits and problems too
A nine month growing season is great but things grow so fast here that you need to change your planting choices and maintenance methods. Box, Lavender and Rosemary for instance, get very woody here very quickly. Mildews, in fact pests and fungal growth of all sorts are more rife- even more so in the sub-tropical North.
North Hemisphere trees grow very quickly; not necessarily bigger at maturity just more rapidly which leads to problems in strength. Roses probably grow twice as fast which create selection issues while and dead heading is almost a mid season pruning.
And the weeds! - they spring up behind you as you hoe. But that’s the same the world over.
From a garden design viewpoint it’s an interesting time.
I am often told that, ‘Minimal’ and ‘easy-care’ gardens have had a real hold here for almost 10 years now, to the extent that a number of specialist plant nurseries have had to close. Only recently does it seem that more people are beginning to re-learn the fact that gardens can be a great pass-time and fun as well. Hopefully we are developing a client base amongst those who realize that.
On a personal and family level, moving out here has been a great adventure – never particularly easy but definitely exciting, challenging and worrying, (amongst many other descriptions). Professionally and financially the same applies.
Anyway I hope you have had a great Christmas and all the best for the New Year and just remember, the days are only getting longer now or shorter in my case!"
Bill Howard moved to New Zealand in 2005 with family and dogs.
He is a garden designer and tree specialist, visiting Europe and USA for work as required.
Website: Howard and Morris
High Street |Oxford |North Canterbury |New Zealand
Telephone: 0064 3 312 1492
Fax: 0064 3 312 1493
email: bill@howardandmorris.co.nz
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