New Zealand Garden Diary: The South Island Robin
New Zealand South Island Robin: Click to see options for using the image
The South Island Robin is one of my favourite birds. You don't see it very often in Lyttelton, because there are too many predators (cats, dogs, rats and stoats) and not enough bush to hide in. I have seen them quite often when out tramping in native forest, but it was a delight to encounter one at my friend’s place on the West Coast.
New Zealand Garden Diary: Growing Sunflower Seeds to Feed Birds
Growing your own bird seed (Click to see options for using the image)
When the weather gets colder, I will be buying seedy fat balls from the Lyttelton farmers market to hang out on the bird table I made. I also put out seeds, grains and water. But in the meantime I am happy to let the birds fatten up on the sunflower seeds from the heads I saved. I think next year I will grow a lot more sunflowers as I love the look of them and I love watching the birds.
New Zealand Garden Diary: Happy Trees, Including Fred the Fig
Growing figs, feijoas and olives in New Zealand
Fred the Fig is doing well - Click to see options for using the image
A long, hot summer with regular watering and use of mulch has meant happy trees up in the back section. I can’t believe Fred the Fig and Fiona the Feijoa each produced two fruits in the first year. I’ve cleared the weeds and put on more mulch (the ground is already wet from rain). Hopefully we’ll get more next year.
No olives on Olive yet, but lots of growth
Fiona the feijoa
New Zealand Garden Diary: Brassicas and Pests
Keeping cabbage whites off the brassicas - Click to see options for using the image
It is cooling off now in Lyttelton, New Zealand and that means NO MORE CABBAGE WHITE BUTTERFLIES! Hooray!
And a gardening program I watch (Gardening Australia) suggested using vegemite in snail traps. Apparently it is the yeasty smell they are attacted to in beer traps. I hate using good beer in traps, so I’m trying a sugary yeast solution. We’ll see if it works.