New Zealand Garden Swap Newsletter

This month's featured catalogue is Nestlebrae Exotics.

Nestlebrae specialise in cottage garden plants and unusual fruit. If you have any interest in these areas you shouldn't miss this catalogue. Nestlebrae are situated at Helensville where conditions are mild, and this enables them to grow a range of subtropical fruit. Many of the items in the catalogue will take some cold howevever, and this is indicated where it might be doubtful.

This is largely a catalogue for people with some skill. Although information on propagation is given for difficult items it it not provided for everything, so you may need to consult reference books. I ordered seed and it arrived promptly in plastic ziplock bags with the Latin name on them, sending me back to the list to see what I had bought. This shouldn't be a problem for the enthusiatic gardener. Casimiroa edulis was wrapped in damp paper with a note indicating it should be planted immediately and not allowed to dry out.

Their website advertises garden visits and plants for sale. If I was in the area I would certainly be wanting to take a closer look, and Norma tells me it is a very interesting garden.

Their catalogue is at http://www.helensville.co.nz/catalogue.htm - don't miss the tree crops page. Seed is $2 a packet which is very tempting, but there are so many interesting items you may still have to watch your budget because you might want them all.