The Great Juniper Hunt: have you seen this plant?
Dear gardeners and citizen scientists, you are being recruited to track down wild juniper berries because, well, that's what gives gin its distinctive flavour and aroma. Look for a conifer with needle-like leaves with sharp tips up to 25mm long. The needles will point up and out rather than down the stem, and are green with a white band down the centre. The all-important berries are 5-6mm wide and blue-black when ripe. Robyn Abernethy from Dunedin Botanic Garden says if you are unsure if a conifer is a juniper, stick your hand into it. Junipers are prickly on the inside. When you've found it, post it to the link below. Happy hunting!
(Pix courtesy of Dunedin Botanic Garden.)
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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5% Second half of November
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44.6% 1st December
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16.8% A week before Christmas
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32.4% Whenever you wish
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1.2% Other - I'll share below
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Drop-In Session at Glenfield Library
Come and say kia ora to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa at Glenfield Library on Thursday, 11:30AM-1:30PM.
Ask about the programmes they offer and see if there is one just right for you.
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
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