Located partly within the Lewis Pass National Reserve and meandering through St James Conservation Area and Lake Sumner Forest Park, the St James Walkway combines diverse scenery, wildlife and vegetation.
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It's tree planting time again and as in previous years, we have once again received an order of 130 trees and shrubs. Carefully selected to fill specific niches, these plants will, as they mature, flesh out the natural forest we are attempting to coax into existence. 3 types of flowering native broom handle strong winds and dry soils while fixing nitorgen in the soil and providing a valuable nectar source for bees and other insects and birds. Hazels, butter nuts, and several berry shrubs will feed us and the wildlife as well as adding an asthetic and natural mixing of scale in the forest.
Date
September 06, 2013
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Sector analysis for optimal land use
One of the fundamental aspects to designing a sensible landscape for habitation and production is the consideration of the various external energies, forces and factors that can impact the site. These commonly include sunlight, wind, visibility, water flow, wildfire and wildlife.
Mapping the 'sectors' where these threats or energies originate you can help determine the placement of elements (plantings, buildings, earthworks) that benefit from or lessen the impact of these forces.
Most of these sectors are easy to identify with on the ground observation or inspection of detailed maps while seasonal sun angles are available for a known latitude.
Local conditions such as hills, valleys and large trees modify wind directions and intensity, cast shade and impact fire rick and behavior. These site specific characteristics may be evident to a well trained eye or can be learnt over an extended period of time spent on site or in discussion with previous occupants or neighbors.
Exclusion / Restrict flow Generally it is desirable to exclude strong winds by planting fast growing shelter trees suitable for the site and of appropriate heights. This may be combines with fire 'proofing' by selecting naturally lass flammable species. Roads and other thoroughfares are a source of noise, possible pollution and fire risk and the curious eyes of passers. For privacy and security reasons it may be advisable this with planting or construction.
Inclusion / Aid flow Sunlight (solar energy) is essential for growth and can assist in many other processes or activities such as drying fruit or washing, heating water etc. Allowing water to enter the site is usually valuable but too much can cause issues so having suitable drainage is essential. Cold air naturally flows down slope but can 'pool' or get trapped behind dense plantings. If frosts are a problem, considering cold air flow may help improve growing conditions.
Do you dream of harvesting your own fresh fruit, berries and vegetables?
I design 'pick any time' forage gardens by including an assortment of location appropriate shrubs, vines and trees that create lush, beautiful landscapes that feed you and your family while providing wildlife habitat and an attractive environment.
Low cost healthy fresh food just out your back door, fantastic!
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Ajuga reptans is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.3m by 0.6m at a slow rate. It is hardy to zone (UK) 6 and is not frost tender. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, The plant is self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Common name
Bugle, Common Bugelweed, Bugleweed, Carpet Bugleweed, Carpetweed, Carpet Bugle
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China and Korea. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Long pinnate leaves, yellow and orange in autumn. Small yellow flowers in large panicles followed by papery triangular capsules. Both make a good display. Suit hot dry sites.
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China & Japan. Wide spreading deciduous shrub. Panicles of creamy white fragrant flowers in mid summer. Bright blue berries remain after leaf fall, best display where two or more are planted. Fruit - cooked. Used in jams, jellies and sauce
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Tubular red flowers and an attractive scent to the leaves that is similar to pineapple. It produces numerous erect leafy stems and flowers in the late autumn. Native to highland temperate forest in central Mexico. In cultivation, Pineapple sage grows to 1.2m tall, with the roots extending underground to form a large clump.
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Purple flowering large shrub to small tree growing to 4 meters. Amorphous fruticosa is a deciduous nitrogen fixing shrub in the legume family. Found wild in most of the contiguous United States, southeastern Canada, and northern Mexico and introduced to Europe. Asia and other continents. It is often cultivated as an ornamental plant. It has minor edible use and some additional uses including: Bedding; Dye; Insecticide; Oil; Repellent; Shelterbelt; and Soil stabilization. Common names, including desert false indigo, false indigo-bush, and bastard indigobush.
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A fast growing nitrogen fixing acacia with valuable ground durable timber. Excellent for firewood and loved by bees. Extensive root system makes it drought proof but can sucker profusely when damaged.
This species is dioecious, having separate male and female plants. You will need at least one of each to get fruit. Handles temperatures down to -5 celcius
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This Himalayan shrub grows easily from seed, is evergreen in mild sheltered sites, semi-evergreen elsewhere, losing its leaves in hard frost but soon recovering again in spring. The growth is upright and flexible, allowing plants to be trained on warm walls where they are sheltered and flower more profusely. The blooms are large and bright yellow, like those of laburnum but in short upright clusters. Although good drainage is important, make sure plants are watered in summer to prevent sudden die-back.
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Fast growing, drought resistant nitrogen fixer (legume). This small tree has white flowers which are loved by bees, bumblebees and native pigeon.
Grown as a nurse or support tree during the establishment of more long term tree plantings. Useful as a quick canopy / umbrella over citrus, avocados etc. or used as physical scaffold for climbers such as grape, kiwifruit etc.
Good firewood from mature trees.
Pour hot water over the seeds and soak for 24 hours before planting into course sand.
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Fast growing tall short lived perennial flowering plant that needs no care or attention. The distinctive seed heads are popular in floral arrangements.
Values include: wind break, shade plant, water holding plant, soil improvement / stabilisation, biomass production, insect habitat, food source for birds, ornamental
Common name
glandular senna, downy senna, buttercup bush
Botanical name
Senna multiglandulosa
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A fast growing evergreen shrub which become treelike. The leaves are each made up of several pairs of thick, hairy, oval-shaped leaflets each measuring up to about 4 centimetres long. The leaves are studded with visible resin glands between the leaflets.
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A deciduous tree or shrub that can grow to heights of 5-10meters.
Grown widely in China for its edible red fruits, these seed come from a tree planted in 2013. This specimen is thornless and produces large quantities of big dark red fruit after white flowers.
This is the only type of hawthorn we grow and there are no wild ones in close proximity (that I am aware of) so seed should be pure.
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Small evergreen tree or shrub slowly growing to 6 meters. Native to Brazil.
Red fruit, up to 3cm in diameter, with numerous hard small seeds. Rich in vitamin C
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A fast growing woody lupine with yellow flowers and a sweet scent. Grows well in poor quality soil and makes a good source of biomass and quick low growing shelter and habitat.
Short lived perennial bush or shrub that grows in poor conditions. Nitrogen fixing
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Easy to grow from seed and tends to naturalize. An annual or biennial growing to 90 cm with large, coarse, pointed oval leaves. In spring and summer it bears terminal racemes of violet flowers, followed by showy, light brown, translucent, disc-shaped seedpods the skin of which falls off to release the seeds, revealing a central membrane which is white with a silvery sheen, 3 - 8 cm in diameter.
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Similar to the regular, common sunflower but often having multiple smaller flowers and dark purple / black seed casing that the Hopi people of North America have traditionally used to make a dye for cotton, wool and basketry
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A genus of shrubs mostly native to Central Asia, some inhabiting dry, half-desert regions with hot summers and bitterly cold winters. They include some of the toughest and most accommodating of all plants, some able to survive temperatures down to -40°C,A genus of shrubs mostly native to Central Asia, some inhabiting dry, half-desert regions with hot summers and bitterly cold winters. They include some of the toughest and most accommodating of all plants, some able to survive temperatures down to -40°C
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Most commonly found in wet woods and swamps, however it grows and fruits acceptably in an elevated location in North Canterbury. Seeds from bushes planted in 2016
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Large edible fruits (hips), which resembles cherry tomatoes, 2-3cm diameter, in late summer and early autumn. Plants often bear fruit and flowers at the same time. The leaves typically turn bright yellow before falling in autumn.