Yesterday there was much wind. Apparently too much for one tree in the paddock between the Homestead and the house where Jacky and little John used to live.

It had no label. But it had beautiful flowers, and I could get a close look at them, now that the tree was laying on the ground.

So come to the rescue, tree fairies, and tell me what tree this is.
At first sight it looks a bit like a poplar. The leaves, and also the branches are quite soft.
But I never saw a poplar with these flowers.
Help!

Today I collected dead branches, for a few hours. Mostly along the Ridge. I took them to the heaps that are ready for the chipper.

I didn’t do much else, because I was a bit sick today.

This morning I worked in two adjacent areas:

a. The triangle Isobel’s Pond – Homestead – (New) Dog Kennels
I did mowing here.
There is still a lot of work to be done here:
- collect dead branches
- pruning of different shrubs and trees
- check the protections
b. The corner of the Oak Paddock
Also been mowing.
Here also a lot of work:
- dead branches
- bamboo; what has to be done with that – discuss with Uncle Bob
(I cleared some around Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Brillantissimum’ 1986 002; should we cut this one back to one trunk?)
- protections with bamboo in it?
- quite a few no labels and old labels, e.g. Hovenia dulcis 1969 020 – the one in F7, I suppose?

In the afternoon I mowed for an hour or so along the Entrance Road.

I made some pictures of 2 Metrosideros species, flowering on the Ridge.

First the Metrosideros parkinsonii (1986 022).
It is known in English as the Parkinson’s Rata.

Unfortunately the flowers where a bit too high to make close up pictures (we need a large ladder for that!). But this are the leaves:

Closely beside it grows a Pohutukawa Metrosideros excelsa (no label; I think it is 1979 028).
The New Zealand Christmas Tree!

At the end of the Ridge, beside the gate is a Liriodendron tulipifera (label says: L. tulipifera ‘Variegatum’ (1856 019); database has a Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Aureomarginatum’ in C6 only!).

It is flowering now.

Close to it is a Tilia mandshurica (1980 043). It is flowering now as well.

Another flowering shrub nearby is Cudrania cuspidata (1985 015).

Along the northern side of Lake Kaikaore:
- Nyssa sylvatica 1956 021. We are in area D10.
There’s a strange stick beside it. Don’t know what it is. Rootsucker? protection for future new tree?

- Taxodium distichum 1968 086. The one in D11 or in C9? I’ll check it. The problem of different trees with the same number….
(now that I’m checking the database I see that there is another T. distichum in D6, from 1949. In the area west of the lake. Must look after that one!)
- Metasequoia glyptostroboides 1956 020. Must be the one in C9.
(The M. glypto below Isobel’s cottage dates back from 1953! That’s an oldie! Must be one of the earlier introductions to NZ)
- Laurus nobilis 1960 028 in C9
- Prunus lusitanica 1961 010. In C9 as well. We are apparently quite close to the corner of C9, C10, D9 and D10.

- Viburnum trilobum 1958 028 in C9 south-east.
A very strange thing. I think he has fallen down. Now he still lives on, and makes new shoots.I think it need a protection.

It is standing below a
- Gleditsia triacanthos 1959 009 in C9 that also needs maintenance! Broken branches.

There is some work to be done around there!

Yesterday John, Jacky and I brought a couple of trailerloads with chips to the small enclosure with rhododendrons and a few (big) trees (which?) at the side of the entrance to the station; and John and I finished the job today.
Wilma cleaned up that area a few months ago. And she watered the rhododendrons a couple of times.
Now we dumped a good load of chips, and we planted a Rhododendron ‘Crest’ (that has been in the homestead garden since 19…, and was taken out by Diane and Steven with the digger). We put it on the trailer and brought it down.

We dug a big hole and brought a trailer with soil to put it right in it’s place. Finally we dropped a last load of chips around it. Now we can only hope that it survives. The weather was quite good for this operation. Yesterday it rained a bit. It rained during the night, and Monday it rained a lot!
We planted a lot of Agapanthus cuttings in the area as well.

On the other side of the road we planted a Magnolia, and put a protection around it.

Remarks:
– One of the big trees is growing quite close to the power line.
– Anne Holden will put some additional nutrients around the rhodos.
– The trees need some pruning next year.

I did some work in the Azalea Area again this morning.
The last 4 wheelbarrows. If I counted it right there are 54 rhodo’s in the area.

Did 4 more wheelbarrows on older / bigger shrubs.

I went looking for 2 specimen of Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut). They are in the catalogue, but I couldn’t find them. Ask Uncle Bob about them!

Today again 10 wheelbarrows in Azalea Area.
Total is now 50. Only a few more to go!

Today I brought again 10 wheelbarrows of chips to the rhodos.
Did some raking. Made some pictures.

Diane and Paula (Terry’s wife) have been planting Daffodils in the Azalea area.
I don’t know what Daffodils. I found a package thing. But it doesn’t say much.

Rhododendron 'Mount Loma Prieta'

Rhodo Mount Loma Prieta. CHG 2008
online catalogue (CHG = Cross Hill Gardens) says:
(Unknown Parentage) Soft pink flowers with a warm apricot yellow centre, giving the overall impression of apricot. Bronze new foliage. (here a picture of flower).
But Rhododirect NZ says: orange / apricot – (concatenans x Full House)

It looks like a typical nz hybrid. see: some list of pfpnet (pfpnet.com is plant software “for professionals” / Hamilton NZ):
Rhododendron Mt Loma Prieta – Wide florets of reddish orange on a very large truss. Superb colouring. 2m

Can’t google other sources.

Next 2 pictures of Azalea ‘Soft Lights’ from Allenton Nurseries (paper label)

Azalea 'Soft Lights'

Azalea 'Soft Lights'

Can’t download the catalogue of Allenton Nurseries (Ashburton). Check this with Diane.
Bad protection, by the way!

Next tree pictures: Rhododendron no label!

Rhodo no label

Rhodo no label

Rhodo no label

I would like to check all the rhodos/azaleas in the Azalea Area and try to compile a complete list (some of the older rhodos are not (properly) labeled as well)!
Made a first list of species in the area from catalogue last year.
I’ll try to find that list.

A picture with a nice view over the lake with autumn colours

The Homestead and Isobel's Cottage

Did I tell that there have been some little bulls in the area? They did a lot of damage (especially to the older (unprotected) rhodos!

- o – o – o -
>More photos tomorrow!<
Then some other trees nearby:
(017 / 022)
1966 059 Quercus mongolica x robur in A9
cat says: seed brought from EWH
Beautiful tree. Gives acorns
Tell John to take old oakwood!

(025 / 036)
1993 103 Picea wilsonii
Tree is growing really well!
Tried a picture in backlight.