GARDENING BY THE MARAMATAKA

Tēnei te mihi atu mo te tau hou tauiwi. Welcome to the new year and to the middle of the season of raumati or summer, getting close to the driest time for most of us. The flowering of the pōhutukawa and rātā are the progenitors of this summer prediction known as Matiti Muramura by some. As this is the driest season, we need to observe our māra for signs of stress and respond accordingly for both ornamental and food plants and trees.