Watch out for this pretty flower
Green thumbs are being asked to watch out for a beautiful but toxic flower that could be growing in their backyards.
What you need to know:
- Every part of the plant is poisonous, and can cause gastroenteritis, thirst, paralysis, blindness, and heart and kidney failure.
- This plant is hardy and normal pest control efforts are often not enough to eradicate.
- The cape tulip, growing up to 90cm high with one strap-like leaf, was introduced to Aotearoa in the 1940s, the Ministry for Primary Industries’ manager for pest management John Sanson said. “Cape tulips, like many of these invasive weeds, are really attractive ornamental species ...but they escape over people’s backyard fences and into pasture, as these things often do,”
- It was classified as a noxious plant in the late 1970s after they were discovered to cause harm to livestock and humans, even killing animals when too much as ingested.
- The salmon-pink flowers bloom for about two days a year between June and December, and have previously been an ornamental species for keen gardeners.
Sanson urged people who believed they had the weed growing on their property to leave it untouched and contact Biosecurity New New Zealand’s Exotic Pest and Disease on 0800 80 99 66.
Once a site was confirmed, manual removal or chemical treatment would start.
Your Christmas shopping just got easier
Mags4gifts.co.nz is having a Christmas sale with up to 40% off best-selling magazine subscriptions, including NZ Gardener, NZ House & Garden and TV Guide. Add a free e-card at checkout and schedule it to arrive on Christmas morning for a perfectly timed surprise! Make Christmas thoughtful this year with a gift that lasts long after the holidays are over.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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71.9% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.3% Hmm, maybe?
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11.7% Yes!
Don’t Let Your Mattress Turn Into a Moving Monster!
Hey neighbours,
Moving house? Don’t wrestle with your mattress like it’s a wild animal! Big, awkward, and easy to damage, it needs a little strategy - and maybe a friend or two.
Top tips to move like a pro:
1. Measure & clear your path - no doorway dramas.
2. Grab a buddy - teamwork makes it a breeze.
3. Lift smart - bend your knees, not your back!
4. Wrap it up - blankets, plastic, or cardboard protect it along the way.
Want all the expert hacks? Check out: beds4u.co.nz...
P.S. If it’s time for a new mattress, our Boxing Day sale is the perfect excuse to upgrade your sleep while you move!
Find your nearest store: beds4u.co.nz...
See our current deals: beds4u.co.nz...
Happy moving, neighbours! Here’s to a smooth move and many nights of comfy sleep in your new home.
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