Yes, we're still here, as most of you will be aware!

Since our last Update we've seen a couple of years pass by, along with several promising potential buyers for the nursery. However, as summer has approached, they have each decided it was too big an undertaking for them, by which time it has been too late to clear the remaining stock until the following planting season in autumn.

But we cannot keep this up forever. Quite how we transition into retirement is still undecided, but by Christmas we hope to wind down the nursery operation in its current form.

This season has seen the winding down of several other nurseries too, and it has been a season of ‘nursery swapsies' as we have checked out each other's stock to fulfil orders for stock we have run out of.

We have stopped propagating most stock apart from lines needed for confirmed forward orders and there are certainly gaps in the beds.

However, many lovely plants remain, and if you want to acquire some of these, now is the time to do so. Our current intervals of rain will certainly help make the most of the coming warmth for maximum summer growth.

Our specialist lines of less commonly available plants are particularly worth considering at this time. Once they are gone, they are not going to be replaced.

A few myths have been circulating that need clarifying:
(a) We have not closed yet.
(b) We are not planning to have a vast fire sale - so don't risk missing out on the treasures you really want.
(c) We are not playing possum. Age is creeping up on us!

If this year's game of ‘swapsies' is any indication, there are going to be severe shortages of plant material in the coming year. So contact us soon.

Geoff and Bev Davidson,
Oratia Native Plant Nursery.


PS: Purchasers of gift vouchers in recent months have been made aware of the need to redeem these well before Christmas. If you know of anyone who has had vouchers sitting around for a while, please encourage them to redeem them as soon as possible.

Stock worth considering:

Certain lines are looking particularly good and are still available in bulk numbers.

Ferns
Asplenium Maori Princess

Grasses
Isachne globosa (swamp millet)
Microlaena stipoides

Ground covers
Acaena inermis
Coprosma hawera
Leptostigma setulosa
Lobelia angulata

Flaxes/Astelias/Libertias
Both Phormium species
Astelia chathamica
Lots of Libertia, Cordyline and Nikau

Sedges and rushes
Isolepis prolifer

Shrubs
Coprosma pedicellata
Coprosma propinqua
Fuchsia colensoi

Trees
Agathis australis
Dacrydium cupressinum
Dodonea viscosa
Metrosideros ‘Maori Princess' (in larger grades)
Prumnopitys taxifolia

Herbs and mosses
Apium prostratum
Hibiscus and many others
Rorippa laciniata
Sonchus kirkii
Some mosses

Rare and Endangered
Christella dentata
Clianthus puniceus
Cordyline Kaspar
Elingamita johnsonii
Hibiscus richardsonii
Lobelia ‘Woodhill'

Vines
Metrosideros carminea
Muehlenbeckia complexa
Tecomanthe speciosa

...And hands up all those who hate the way your ‘clever' computer refuses to leave your carefully spelled botanical names alone, insisting that names such as ‘Lobelia angulata' become ‘angulate', even when you think you've outwitted it!