Lyndale NewsBrief - July 2010

Blenheim Sunshine, Wine and Weather

While the weather did not comply with Blenheim’s fabulous reputation for clear cloudless days, we did get exposed to the wine and a lot more.

IPPS conference time in Blenheim was a blast, always a great opportunity to catch up at the conference, which got into its stride on the Friday 28th, which coincided with “Hug a Ginga” day.

This is the day when we are told you should hug a red haired person to share all the good vibes you might really feel for them, but do not get to express all year.

There was a surprising number of “Ginga’s” paraded at the evening function, who seemed to be confused about the decorum associated with the day, or maybe they felt hard done by?

The end result was some Ginga’s who took the initiative and hugged everyone else - a lovely welcome to friendly Blenheim.

Not sure if it’s a Blenheim thing, but there seemed to be a focus on hair and heads. The conference “formal” dinner and auction was an evening themed around World War One with everyone instructed to wear some appropriate hat.

Rao won a prize for his WW1 India Brigade head wear and then went on to excel in auction bidding, winning a fishing trip for 4.

He was not alone in this, as Krystyna showed, bringing home the cherries! (Fruit to be delivered in December/January).

All in all a lot of fun and lots of quality networking opportunities.

Real IPPS

While the IPPS motto of “Seek and Share” has been modernised these days, ethos remains the same. There was a genuine sharing of knowledge and experience through a well balanced program, which had something for everyone.

As I mentioned in the last Newsbrief, I gave a paper on our experience with biodegradable pots, where we are today and how we got there.

While the feedback was interested and positive, I did receive the comment that my presentation was only about us (Lyndale) and did not focus on the benefits to growers, which this technology can bring.

This is a fair comment. However, my message was about the benefits that are inherent in adopting this technology, which benefit the propagator first and less directly the grower or receiver of the plant grown in the biodegrading pot.

Clearly, there are a host of benefits to the grower, the least of which is the time saved in knocking pots out if they chose to do that.

The point remains that we have found there are enough benefits to warrant using biodegradable pots for all, reaped everywhere from the breaking of the disease cycle though to the possibilities that open with mechanization.

Rain Brings smiles

While the rain was a little unexpected in Blenheim, it was as welcome as it has been through out the rest of the parched country.

Faced with a shorter time period to get all the planned environmental planting done in, nurseries that deal with such crops are flat out getting orders dispatched and dealing with enquiries.

However, significant sales were lost in the April/May period as drought related go slows swept retailers and growers respectively.

Reveg Line Revelation

One of the many direct benefits which have arisen from the increase in focus on revegetation of native plants, has been a rekindling of respect for the performance and general usefulness of some of the key species.
Phormium tenax is the first stand out plant that comes to mind. It’s not only a robust and beautiful plant but it is an amazing wind break and of course, a quick food source for native birds.

The very best wind breaks, in terms of their effectiveness in creating shelter are those that offer 50% permeability.

That is to say they filter the wind allowing 50% through. This creates a bigger area of shelter then a solid wall or indeed a clipped hedge can.
Phormium tenax excels as a 50% permeable shelter, looks great and is fast becoming one of my favourite plants around home.

Custom Mix Toys

Making potting mix for ourselves and others is often hot dusty work, and having the very best of ingredients is essential to producing quality potting mix.

We pride ourselves in using only the best ingredients to develop the structure and all important air filled porosity, which is imperative to a good potting mix.

Equally so is the equipment you use to produce it.

We have had a number of mixing machines, all blenders that lift and fold rather then stir. Watch this space for our latest new “bigger than big” soil mixer soon to be installed.

Kind regards
Malcolm & The Lyndale Team

Life Around The Nursery

We take hug a ginga days seriously at Lyndale

It's a man's world...

Lyndale Nurseries