Library Engagement Team Lead and keen gardener Jennifer Walton,
Jennifer Walton is the Library Engagement Team Lead
I dream of fragrant blooms, lush green foliage, abundant trees, rambling cottage wildflowers and a plentiful vegetable patch.
When you visit my whare and take in the empty rock gardens, browning hanging baskets and weed-riddled veggie garden you realise my thumbs are most definitely not green, not even a subtle pistachio.
But, I do like to dream.
Every now and again my other half and I become motivated and give the veggie garden an overhaul and prepare for the onslaught of homegrown veggies, alas the motivation seems to wilt just as quickly as the unloved tomato plants and we are left with vegetationdying off along with my dreams.
Taking my track record of the outdoors into account, a few years ago I decided to try my hand at indoor gardening and my first purchase was the all-too-trendy Monstera Deliciosa.
I was soon gifted a few other plants by a friend keen to foster this new interest of mine. This plant collecting quickly became a wee obsession.
Soon I was watching my plants outgrow their pots, I was running out of space and had to start hanging plants due to a lack of household surfaces. My indoor plants thrived and I officially had a fun new hobby and something to talk about at social occasions. I was propagating, pruning and re-potting.
I was madly Googling potential problems and issuing stacks of library books looking for best plant food options, inspiration, tips and tricks.
What is this white spot? Why are these leaves drooping? My biggest problem plant was a Peace Lily which emphatically refused to bloom, quite disheartening when I was told they are the easiest plant in the universe to care for.
In more recent times my energy for the houseplants has dipped, the numbers have dwindled and all propagation efforts have been abandoned.
While still surrounded by much greenery which I routinely water and occasionally move, I did give up on the Peace Lily. My Monstera is still going strong and is absolutely my crowning glory.
It is actually pretty hideous, it’s leggy and huge, it takes up way more space than should be allowed but I love it. Maybe I’ll find a book about replanting a Monstera outdoors but given my past performance in that area I’ll keep nurturing it inside for a little longer.
Whatever the shade of your thumbs, take a look at this week’s top 10 books for some of the latest gardening ideas and tips.
Top 10 books
What’s new in gardening
Hands in the dirt: Grow your own kai with Mrs Evans by Leah Evans.
How not to kill your houseplant: Survival tips for the horticulturally challenged by Veronica Peerless.
Honey bee pests and diseases: A complete guide to prevention and management by Robert Owen.
The climate change-resilient vegetable garden: How to grow food in a changing climate by Kim Stoddart.
Thrifty gardening: Money-saving tips and know-how for a flourishing garden by Country Women’s Association of Victoria.
The backyard homestead guide to growing organic food by Tanya Denckla Cobb.
Forage & stitch: Using natural materials in textile art by Caroline Hyde-Brown.
Leaves, roots & fruit: A step-by-step guide to planting an organic kitchen garden by Nicole Johnsey Burke.
Planting a paradise: A year of pots and pollinators by Arthur Parkinson.
The treehouse book by Candida Collins.
Exhibitions
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Gallery Presents ‘KO AU TE AWA – I am the River’ by Manu Bennett – 21 June to 31 July 2024.
Manu Bennett is a teacher and professional artist with more than 30 years of experience. Specialising in contemporary Māori art, Manu blends traditional methods with modern perspectives using paint and wood. This exhibition highlights the different natural elements where you can source food during the winter season. There are works themed around the bush, the water and the air.
What’s On
Heritage room:
Volunteers staff the Heritage rooms at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Tuesday to Friday at the following times:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 10.00am -12.30pm
Thursday, 12.30pm – 3.00pm
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom Heritage Room has the research librarian available all day every Friday.
Friday July 19:
School Holiday Programme, Under the Night Sky Activities.
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am – 12pm
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10am – 12pm
Shannon Library, 1pm – 3pm
Friday Live Concert, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 12pm – 1pm
Jim Redmond Crib Club, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 1pm – 3pm
SeniorNet, Get help with your tablets, phones and laptops
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10am – 12pm
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 2pm – 3pm
Saturday July 20:
Jazz Jam, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Monday July 22:
Storytime, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am – 10.30am
Meet Street, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am – 11am Volunteer Central, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am – 12pm
H.U.G Horowhenua Ukulele Group, Main Space, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 11am – 12pm
Simply Meditation, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 12pm – 1pm, koha
Tuesday July 23:
Justice of the Peace, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 11.30am – 1.30pm
500 Card Group, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 1pm – 3pm, $2
Lego Hour, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Wednesday July 24:
Volunteer Central, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am – 12pm
Crochet & Coffee Club, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10.30am
Better Digital Futures: Engaging Online, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 1pm – 3pm
Code Club, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 4pm – 5pm
Pop Up Eats Horowhenua, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Carpark, 5pm – 8pm
Quiz Night, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 7pm – 9pm, $5
Thursday July 25:
Digital Learning: eLibrary Discovery Session, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am – 12pm
Sewing Workshop, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am – 12pm
500 Card Group, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 1pm – 3pm, $2