Garden Journal

National Gardening Week reminds us that the garden is a living conversation between people, plants, and pollinators. At Addenbrooke, we are listening closely, planting wildflowers, protecting our beneficial insects, and working hand in hand with nature.

The garden is beginning to stir in the loveliest ways. Daffodils and orchard blossoms are filling the air with colour and life, while bees busily hum about their work. In the potting shed, seeds of cosmos, zinnias, and sweet peas are being sown, ready to bring a summer of blooms. It is a season of beginnings and we would love for you to share it with us here in the garden.

With spring on the horizon, the nursery is alive with subtle signs of the season ahead - magnolias unfurling, seed trays filling, and new ideas quietly taking root. From rose selections to behind-the-scenes teamwork (and a few good lunches!), we’re moving in sync with nature’s gentle cues.

There’s plenty happening beneath the surface, tap below to take a peek behind the potting shed doors.

The winter sun has finally made an appearance, and things are shifting into gear here at the nursery. While the wind still nips at our noses, it's the ideal time to start prepping your garden for the season ahead. We’ve been moving plants, watching the birdlife, and sharing ideas over a team lunch—all while fine-tuning for a flourishing spring...

Step into the rhythm of gardening this year with our latest entry from Tales: From The Potting Shed on Seed Sowing. Discover how moon phases influence plant growth, why timing is everything, and what exciting new blooms are on the horizon. Get ready to nurture life from soil to bloom...

A crisp winter morning, a clever natural brew, and one very hungry visitor… Discover how our nursery team is finding gentle nature-friendly ways to manage curious creatures and garden challenges...

The Nursery & Garden team are in full swing, bustling with activity, including the garden itself blooming with surprises early this year! See more about what's happening with production and the Garden & Nursery as we prepare for spring in the latest entry of Tales: From The Potting Shed...

Marsh's Honey is iconic in Central Otago and this artisan producer is a third generation family business that has been around since 1934, owned and operated by Russell and Trudie Marsh.  We are thrilled to have their wonderful products available for you as...

This recipe is one that we get asked to share on a regular basis whenever we serve this at Puriri Lane @ Addenbrooke - Rhubarb Cordial.  We use for this recipe what we think is the best Rhubarb which is called...

 Botanical :: Derived from plants Botanical is a New Zealand skincare brand that has been in existence since 2012 and we love to be able to support small businesses around the country and this beautiful brand is a great fit...

Growing Wonder: A Flower Farmer's Guide to Growing Roses Third-generation farmer Felicia Alvarez demystifies the art of growing roses for both amateurs and professionals. Garden roses are a class unto themselves, combining romance, nostalgia, incredible beauty and unparalleled fragrance. With...

Autumn is the season famed for it beautiful rusty ambers, bronzed reds and mustard hues and it is in full swing here at Puriri Lane @ Addenbrooke with our many deciduous trees dropping their leaves, although a stressful summer for our plants...

  Dahlias add so much beauty to the Summer garden with their diversity of colour, style and size.  They are a perfect choice for both the garden and the cutting patch.  Dahlias are an award winning garden plant and the RHS has...

- Highlights of the Winter Garden - Hellebores are one of the delights of the cold winter months. Hellebores are perennials, mainly native to woodland edges, so they thrive in dappled shade, although some will also grow in sun and others prefer the comfort of deeper shade. Many varieties...

 It is so lovely to see flowers blooming in the garden and sometimes we find it hard to cut them, so why not create your own Cutting Garden.  You don't need a huge amount of space, you just need to...

Chrysanthemums | The History Chrysanthemums have a strong link with Eastern culture as they were originally cultivated in China. There is even a city in China named after it called Chu-Hsien or translated to Chrysanthemum City. Legend says that the flower possessed...

...And before you know it another year has begun and it is time for saving seeds again! Harvesting of seeds In most cases collecting seeds from flowers, can be as simple as going out to the garden, handpicking a few mature seedpods,...

Bees have much to teach us, their importance to mankind is beyond measure. Bees (honey bees) are in fact the most studied creature by humans after mankind itself. Bees are already struggling to cope with the varroa mite.  Now they...

It's School Holiday time and we love to encourage children to get outdoors and Autumn is such a great time to do outdoor activities with lots to see. Here is a little Nature Hunt that we have put together which...