h-member-login

MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER  header call 
Melody sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021454814
Nadia n.lewis@xtra.co.nz 021677978
Reporting: Julia news@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 0274641673
 Accounts: Richard info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021678358

 

Archives

Gardening with Gael - Winter flowers: Pink is the new white

 

Camellia-487The pink fundraiser article on the front of last week’s Focus inspired me to think of all things pink. The front page says “In the realm of colour, pink is the hue for universal unconditional love of oneself and others, representing compassion, understanding and the giving and receiving of care.”

Fine sentiments, and motivating including pink in the winter garden. Pink flowers at this time of the year are a cheerful presence during the short days. Several are flowering right now. Their colour contrasts with the more somber green of the winter leaf and provides spots of warm, bright colour.

Luculia gratissima, or Pink Himalayan Luculia, is in full bloom right now. ‘Gratissima’ means pleasant or agreeable and this flower certainly is. The large fragrant blooms are perfect for picking. I think they make an excellent flower for bathrooms and toilets. So strong is the fragrance that I find it overpowering in the bedroom and living areas. I have one on the corner of the house and the fragrance wafts in through the windows. 

They are not as sturdy as the white luculia that I have mentioned in relation to my white garden. They are best planted among other plants in a border in full sun. This way the more open habit is supported by other plants and protects them from wind. Luculias (in spite of the word Himalayan) do not like frost. Plant in full sun in an average soil. They are reasonably drought resistant but I find in the heat of the sun their wilted leaves are a reminder to water. Mulching helps and so does an application each year of rich compost material. 

After flowering the entire plant needs cutting back by half to encourage a denser growth habit. Mangawhai Service Station in the village has some Luculia pinceana ‘Fragrant Cloud’ which is a lighter soft pink. For a darker pink choose Luculia gratissima, which I understand also does well in a partially shaded area.

The Camellia sasanquasare is flowering now. Sasanquas can be recognised by their small leaf and compact habit. I planted the sasanquas along the school fence nearly 40 years ago. When I drove past them this morning I noticed they were all flowering. The flowers of this type of camellia are small and range from white through to dark pink. They are suitable for small gardens and are ideal for hedges, screens and among other plants. Rowie often has small pink dwarf varieties at the market. Most flower almost all winter. 

My friends and I all planted Camellia Cinnamon Cindy, a sasanqua hybrid, in remembrance of our friend Cynthia. Everyone with one has remarked how well this plant is flowering this year.

Some of the Camellia japonicas are already flowering. As hardy as the sasanquas, they have a larger leaf and a wide range of blooms. One that I highly recommend is flowering now [see photo]. ‘Desire’ is an outstandingly beautiful flower, a large formal double, white with a blush of pink on the outer edges of the petals.

Hibiscus are still flowering and there are some sturdy pink varieties. The mild weather is increasing the length of time they are flowering this year. I enjoy colour blocking and at the Block in my pink area the hibiscus are in full bloom along with a standardised Cinnamon Cindy and some pink geraniums. The large hardy ‘Suva Queen’ with fully double flowers thrives in a sandy soil. A vigorous tall plant it flowers freely for months.

‘Desire’ is an outstandingly beautiful flower, a large formal double, white with a blush of pink on the outer edges of the petals.



The old woman paid no attention to the camellia until that morning, when a fleck of pink caught her eye. The single saucer-size blossom was more magnificent than she could ever have imagined. More beautiful than any rose she'd ever seen, it swayed in the morning breeze with such an air of royalty, the old woman felt the urge to curtsey in its presence.”
Sarah Jio, The Last Camellia

 
ABOUT US
  CHECK IT OUT
The Mangawhai Focus is the only 'Mangawhai' community Newspaper and is the paper of choice within the local area.

For more information on distribution and circulation please 
click here
 

Directory

Archives

Contact Us


 

 

 

FOLLOW US

facebook   twitter   174855-378

CONTACT US


Sales: 021 454814
  sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz
Editorial: 027 4641673
  news@mangawhaifocus.co.nz
Office: 021 678357
  info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz