The Great Juniper Hunt: have you seen this plant?
Dear gardeners and citizen scientists, you are being recruited to track down wild juniper berries because, well, that's what gives gin its distinctive flavour and aroma. Look for a conifer with needle-like leaves with sharp tips up to 25mm long. The needles will point up and out rather than down the stem, and are green with a white band down the centre. The all-important berries are 5-6mm wide and blue-black when ripe. Robyn Abernethy from Dunedin Botanic Garden says if you are unsure if a conifer is a juniper, stick your hand into it. Junipers are prickly on the inside. When you've found it, post it to the link below. Happy hunting!
(Pix courtesy of Dunedin Botanic Garden.)
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.6% Yes
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13.9% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Got a Minute? Prove You’re the Smartest Neighbour!
What is it that when given one, you’ll have either two or none?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
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