Nursery Open Day the Place to Go for Plants and Advice

Wellington City Council parks staff have over a decade of experience getting native plants to grow on Wellington hillsides, streamsides and coastal areas, and will share what they have learnt at this year’s Berhampore Nursery open day on Saturday 17 May.

More and more people are getting together to help plant and look after areas of reserve land around the city and the Council's Environment Portfolio Leader, Councillor Celia Wade-Brown, says it makes sense to pass on what works well and what doesn't.

She says nursery staff grow more than 90,000 plants a year that Council staff and community groups plant around the city and they generally recommend a small palette of "bomb-proof", eco-sourced species that are well-suited to local conditions.

"It's wonderful that we have a nursery that can supply the growing number of community groups helping to care for reserves and ecological areas," she says. "Some groups have their own nurseries but the majority rely on the plants the Council provides."

Nursery and parks staff have learnt a lot over the years about what to plant, how close to plant and how best to prepare the ground. For instance, once hillsides were sprayed before they were planted.

"These days we always retain grass where we can because it helps retain moisture and keeps the more aggressive, invasive weeds out," Cr Wade-Brown says. "It's saving us money, better for the environment and better for staff."

Talks on revegetation at the open day will be of particular interest to people involved with community projects but should also interest home gardeners wanting to landscape challenging sites.

There will be demonstrations, displays by community gardening and horticultural groups and more than 2000 plants for sale. Some excellent succulent bargains will be on offer along with lots of native plants suitable for exposed hillsides and gardens, including flaxes, grasses and shrubs.

Talks this year are:

10.30am – Sensational succulents

11am – Greening the neighbourhood

11.30am – Re-potting orchids

Noon – Makara Peak – bringing back the bush

12.30pm – Eco-sourcing native plants

1pm – Small tree pruning demonstration

The nursery is located at the end of Emerson Street and gates will be open from 10am until 2pm. Entry is free.