Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84Palmers are your garden and outdoor living experts with over 50 years’ experience helping kiwis grow great gardens. Visit us online or at one of our 16 stores in the North Island. www.palmers.co.nz 0800 PALMERS (0800 725 6377) Resene Daisy Bush bee aware Bees are so important to our gardens, pollinating plants and crops, so here are Palmers’ top five tips for creating a bee-friendly garden. 1. Regular nectar supplies Trees and shrubs can provide a flush of pollen and nectar early in the season before other plants have a chance to emerge. Trees and shrubs create a safe haven of relatively undisturbed habitat. 2. The right flowers Bees like flowers they can easily land on or tubular flowers with nectar at the base – think daises, dandelions or snapdragons. Blue and yellow are favourite bee colours. Bees can’t see red! Try to include native plants in your garden. They are already adapted to your area, and many perennial species bloom very early or late in the season, before or after annual flowers are at their prime. 3.  Provide shallow water Just like humans, bees need water to survive. A bird bath is a fantastic watering hole for bees; just place some small stones or floating pieces of wood in the bird bath, or choose a bird bath with a gently sloping outer edge. 4. No pesticides! Most pesticides are lethal to bees so opt for organic solutions and only spray in the evening when bees have gone to bed. Palmers is New Zealand’s only garden centre group to be granted accreditation to sell certified organic gardening products. As a BioGro Organics Certified retailer, you can be assured that Palmers’ organics range has been produced in accordance with internationally recognised standards. Every product in the Palmers Green Living Organics range has been chosen because it is BioGro certified organic and represents value and quality with integrity. Come in and talk to a Palmers garden expert on choosing the right organic solution for your garden. 5.  Weeds aren’t that bad For generations we’ve been told to eliminate weeds, but for bees, weeds are good! A lawn full of clover and dandelion is a haven for honey bees (and other native pollinators) so don’t be worried about letting your lawn and garden go a bit wild from time to time... Bearded Iris How can you resist a flower that’s named after the Greek word for rainbow? Tall bearded irises are a superbly elegant flower, sculptural and exquisite. Grown from rhizomes, they burst forth in a spring garden to herald warmer days. There’s an almost limitless colour choice of this sun-loving plant and, of course, they make great cut flowers. Deep royal violet is a classic colour for an iris but how about combining it with white for this bi-coloured beauty, called Convention? Or there are pinks, yellows, whites and more... Dianthus No longer just the preserve of Nana’s garden, dianthus (carnations) are enjoying a resurgence for their addictive clove-like perfume and pure prettiness. Classic dianthus tended towards pastel colours but today more striking colours are available, and in varigated petals – this one is Olivia Cherry. Use dianthus in pots near windows or doors to scent your home. Quick growing and easy to look after, they seem to bloom forever. Resene Organic Bearded Iris Convention Dianthus Olivia Cherry 5431 planting feature