Mid-Winter in Lynne’s New Zealand Garden

25.07.2024 - 04:33 / finegardening.com / GPOD Contributor

Hi GPOD!

Today we’re popping down to the Southern Hemisphere and revisiting Lynne Leslie’s garden in Wellington, New Zealand (check out her previous submissions: Lynne’s Windy Garden in New Zealand and Late Spring in Lynne’s Garden). Getting updates from Lynne is a two-fold treat. First, Lynne grows some amazing plants with lots of fabulous flowers that would delight no matter her locale. Second, while us gardeners in the Northern Hemisphere are dealing with heat waves in the peak of summer, New Zealand is experiencing their winter season. We get to see what interesting, and some completely foreign, plants are growing and blooming on the opposite end of the world.

Even with temperatures hovering around 14 degrees the weeds just keep on growing! Gardening means so much to me. As I potter around near the footpath people stop for a chat and I regularly pass on cuttings to encourage others – sharing plants gives me so much pleasure.

Hellebores come in such variety now with new ones appearing in shops every year. I love the traditional ones, but newer types can have such interesting foliage. At the end of the season I cut all foliage and spent flowers off as they spread their seeds with abandon, and aphids love to make the plants their new home.

Another winter favourite is flame vine (Pyrostegia venusta, Zones 9–11).It grows so rapidly that I must cut it back hard after flowering. Great for picking and such a bright light in the garden.

Primrose jasmine (Jasminum mesnyi, Zones 8–11) brings back memories of my Nana, a great gardener. Picked for the vase when buds first appear, the flowers then emerge gradually brightening up the house.

Alstroemeria are a real stalwart – easy to grow and flower for so long. To remove the