Watch out for this pretty flower
Green thumbs are being asked to watch out for a beautiful but toxic flower that could be growing in their backyards.
What you need to know:
- Every part of the plant is poisonous, and can cause gastroenteritis, thirst, paralysis, blindness, and heart and kidney failure.
- This plant is hardy and normal pest control efforts are often not enough to eradicate.
- The cape tulip, growing up to 90cm high with one strap-like leaf, was introduced to Aotearoa in the 1940s, the Ministry for Primary Industries’ manager for pest management John Sanson said. “Cape tulips, like many of these invasive weeds, are really attractive ornamental species ...but they escape over people’s backyard fences and into pasture, as these things often do,”
- It was classified as a noxious plant in the late 1970s after they were discovered to cause harm to livestock and humans, even killing animals when too much as ingested.
- The salmon-pink flowers bloom for about two days a year between June and December, and have previously been an ornamental species for keen gardeners.
Sanson urged people who believed they had the weed growing on their property to leave it untouched and contact Biosecurity New New Zealand’s Exotic Pest and Disease on 0800 80 99 66.
Once a site was confirmed, manual removal or chemical treatment would start.
Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.
If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?
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60.8% Summer
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36.9% Winter
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2.3% Other - I'll share below
Poll: Cast your vote for NZ's Merriest Home 2024
Neighbourly members across the country have been sharing their festive decor to be in to win the title of NZ's Merriest Home. We've narrowed the entries down to six finalists (our toughest feat yet!).
Now it's up to you!
Click on the name of the finalist to see all of their photos before you cast your merry vote!
Nishan Wijesinghe from Te Atatu South - See all photos here
Mark Williams from Tamatea - See all photos here
Linda Clack from Cockle Bay - See all photos here
Luke Murphy from Hornby - See all photos here
Joanne Isles from Hokowhitu - See all photos here
Kirstyn Tait from Wigram - See all photos here
The finalist with the most votes will win the title of NZ's Merriest Home and $200 to go toward more Christmas goodies!
You can also enlarge the images below by clicking on them. Happy voting, neighbours!
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17.3% Nishan Wijesinghe from Te Atatu South
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27.9% Mark Williams from Tamatea
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6.1% Linda Clack from Cockle Bay
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25.9% Luke Murphy from Hornby
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6.9% Joanne Isles from Hokowhitu
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16% Kirstyn Tait from Wigram
Upcoming Wairarapa Summer events 🌞
Summer has arrived and Wairarapa is calling! Check out some of our upcoming summer events:
🌞 Outdoor Movie at Le Grá Vineyard - Thursday 26 December 🍿
Watch Dirty Dancing on the big screen among the vines on Boxing Day. Bring your own picnic or order a platter from the Le Grá kitchen, and choose your drinks and snacks from The Caravan Bar.
🌞 New Year's Race Day at Tauherenikau Racing & Event Centre - Thursday 2 January 🏇
Bring the family to Wairarapa's first and most famous race day of the year, with loads of family fun to see in the New Year! Pack a picnic and head along for a guaranteed great day out.
🌞 Wairarapa Music in the Country - Friday 10 to Sunday 12 January 🎸
You’ll be blown away by the amazing calibre of some of NZ’s finest multi-award-winning musicians! Get your full festival and day passes now.
🌞 Toast Martinborough - Sunday 19 January 🍷
Enjoy a top day in Martinborough's vines with a mixture of world-class wines, various foods and vibrant live music, all based around the new walkable festival road. The new date on Wellington Anniversary weekend, gives you an extra day to relax and explore the rest of Martinborough.
The What's On page on our website is your go-to for everything that's on in the region. Link below.
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