[jubjub]

http://www.arc.govt.nz/environment/natural-environments/restoring_nature/native-plant-identification.cfm

also contains links to other sites..

Found this site, after we were told that our nice established front garden is full of native NZ plants, so far identified are a couple of Hebe, several Pohotakawa (nz xmas tree), two manuka (bees love it, hence the manuka honey), a massive liquidambar tree, and a camelia (meant to be a bush, but its more like a tree!)

Still five or six others to properly identify, but everything is just starting to come out in flowers, its changing every day out there...

[Smiler]

Ohh sounds a lovely garden Sal. Our leaving pressie from the in laws was a super doper posh pair of secateurs.But they look too nice to use. :laugh

Can't wait to get our own garden again after 10 years of rentals. Have you any pics of yours?

Deborah

[jubjub]

Here you go....., you can see nearly 2/3rds of our front garden


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v690/asjohnstone/IMGP0560.jpg

[Smiler]

Wow that camelia is huge! and is that and aloe vera plant in the front?

Nice:nice1
Deborah

[Singel]

It's nice to have a matured garden and it changes with the season.

Sal, any of your plants have fragrant flowers or leaves?

Looks like a cozy front garden :nice1

[Do B Brief]

Here's a strange one for those coming from th UK (and other countries that don't have them) wild Orchids!!! :p

I mean, you open your (side) door and there's 2 blooming right outside.

Walk down the hill and growing wild are....Orchids. :roll

Personally I don't like the smell of them but they do look fantastic.

I wonder what's next when summer really comes? :yes

[Simon & Emily]

We get wild orchids here in the UK, don't we?

Only the titchy, tiny types mind you, but I'm sure we have them.

Emily

[Soon2baKiwi]

Lovely looking garden Sal and thanks for that link too. I haven't a clue what's in ours and hubby is useless at identifying anything. Same with the birds - our house has bush around it and the chorus sometimes has to be heard to be believed. We've seen Lorikeets and they were easy to identify but not all the other little ones. I might be able to get a link from that site. Thanks again.

[jubjub]

If you find a good bird link, can you post it? I love the sounds of the birds here, they are deafening at times, but would love to know what they all are, got as far as recognising a Tui call.

[Soon2baKiwi]

Will do. I THINK I know the Tui call - but knowing me it could be a blackbird with a sore throat or something LOL

[Soon2baKiwi]

Look at this! I just did a quick google and found this site - I've just had a quick look for the Tui and it's lovely. Got some really nice picturies and histories.

http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/gallery.html

Enjoy

[Moorf]

Keep an eye out in the garden for preying mantis eggcases - they are hatching about now - the little girl next door is a budding bug brainache and she showed me all the ones she'd found in her garden, then she came and found some in our garden! Can't wait until they all hatch - apparently there are loads in these gardens. What an improvement in my bravery from this time last year when I saw my first mantis poke it's head above the curtain rail above the bed :exit - I love the little critters now!!

[jubjub]

I just managed to find a site that does sounds and pictures of birdies...

http://www.mtbruce.org.nz/gallery.htm

[Moorf]

Awww, there's no magpie sound on that page - I love their sound here, it sounds like an old 9600 modem dialling in... :D , very strange noise.

[Singel]

I like those bird songs, its great :raebanana :raebanana

Thanks for the 2 links :cheers

[sweetpea]

Hey Sal, don't be shy about posting pics of individual plants. I'm sure there are a bunch of us who love to play "name that plant" :) (misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=17#)