Jacqui Knight, secretary of the Monarch Butterfly New Zealand Trust, is puzzled. “Where are monarch butterflies overwintering?” she asks. “We have received reports of new locations this year but nothing from other parts of New Zealand....... Read More

Those with green fingers and a love of the outdoors are being asked to don their gloves today for an Arbour Day tree-planting session at Katikati. The Uretara Estuary Managers group invites the public to help them plant 1200 native trees in pre-drilled...... Read More

If you want early flowers this spring you must get your bulbs in soon because they require the chilling that comes with winter. Yes, unfortunately it’s hard to manipulate bulbs to flower when you want, according to Paul Hoek at NZ Bulbs, and this...... Read More

If you want early flowers this spring you must get your bulbs in soon because they require the chilling that comes with winter. Yes, unfortunately it’s hard to manipulate bulbs to flower when you want, according to Paul Hoek at NZ Bulbs, and this...... Read More

Who would have thought? I was fossicking around in online stuff that I never really needed to know about and came cross some gardening tips that I will never get to use. It doesn’t make them any the less interesting though – and I share them...... Read More

Worm farming is a great idea for getting rid of kitchen scraps, plus creates a natural and low cost fertiliser. Making your own worm bin isn’t too hard, and you can make your own worm farm cheaply and easily out of wood or plastic storage containers. Your...... Read More

Recent rain is delaying the re-opening of the Poplar Lane access to the Papamoa Hills Park, which has been closed for logging since last October. The logging is completed and now the re-opening of the Poplar Lane access is depending on conditions –...... Read More

With hundreds of Cadbury chocolate fish, delicious chutneys and chillies, and a free barbecue, Growers Direct has the recipe for a fun Labour Weekend event. The Te Puna centre’s free event is returning with the company’s popular chutneys...... Read More

Bay of Plenty residents are being urged to plant bulbs, wildflowers, herbs, vegetables and trees in their gardens this autumn as part of the mission to preserve the bumblebee. The New Zealand Bumblebee Conservation Trust was created in 2016 to educate...... Read More

Bay of Plenty residents – along with fellow Kiwis around the nation – are being challenged to plant a native tree on Arbor Day on June 5, 2017, to set a record for the most trees ever planted on one day in New Zealand. The challenge comes...... Read More