One of my Dutch irises - a white one - is out today. π Also, two more new additions to my garden. π
Photo 1: My white Dutch iris, the first one open this season. π
Photo 2: My two newest additions to my garden - two blueberry plants of two different varieties, both of the Rabbiteye type. It's a small bush, which grows to 1m x 1.5m at the largest - so is the easiest to keep in a tub/barrel, like I have them both in here. π
Photo 3: Blueberry Tasty Blue variety - of the Rabbiteye type. π
Photo 4: Blueberry Blue Dawn variety - also of the Rabbiteye type. π Rabbiteye type plants ARE self-fertile, but you will need at least two different varieties of the Rabbiteye type to cross-pollinate and increase crop yield and fruit size, so I've bought two compatible types from Mitre 10. Check the labels on the plants when choosing which varieties to buy, so that you know which varieties will go with which. Plant them at least 1.5 metres apart if planting them in the ground, as this is how big these plants will grow, and position them no further than 20 metres apart, so that the bees can find them and share the pollen between them so that they will cross-pollinate.
Blueberries like acidic soil to grow in (so that they will produce fruit), so that's why you're best to plant them in tubs or wooden (or other material) barrels like I have (that, and they're awesomest to plant that way!!! π). I put Tui compost in the bottom, Tui strawberry mix/potting mix at the top, mixed with Hauraki Gold peat moss and sheep pellets. I watered it in well with Yates Thrive liquid seaweed citrus food & Seasol seaweed solution, diluted with water in a watering can. Blueberry plants take a while to fruit, so by the third year, when they get big enough, you should have fruit. π
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, weβre a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature β and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
π‘οΈ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and youβre unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:ββ
β Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codesββ
β Never need to know your full credit card number β especially the CVC
β Never ask you to download software or remotely access your deviceββ
β Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? π»π¨π
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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36.5% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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63.5% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
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