Category Archives: Marton NZ

Summer 2022

Summer is in full swing. Blue sky days, scorching afternoons with drying winds, it was a relief to wake to rainfall this morning, lovely and cool. Mostly Summer means watering when needed and trimming back/weeding. It has become unbearable to be out under the sun, I look forward to the shade of the trees as they grow.

The grass is sooo long! Yesterday paddock path trimming with the mower could not be delayed any longer. It was good to have a decent look around and see how all the new trees are doing. Most are surviving quite well.

The main focus at the moment is the annual garden with veggies in full swing, preserving is now top of mind. It is looking like a bumper crop of tomatoes after a very shaky start in the glasshouse with aphids devouring all young seedlings. Eventually the ladybirds moved in and the problem went away. Gherkins and chilli peppers are a new addition this year, and both are going well.

I have been fortunate with painting sales lately which is exciting because it has meant funds for more trees. I am so appreciative of those who buy my work and enable me to keep going. This morning I worked on a wish list for winter planting of bare root trees and have just sent it off to see what I can get! Each year I am trying to add more variety to the planting on site. I have reached my limit for where the natives will grow for now (even pioneers are struggling) so am looking further afield for the most difficult areas to plant. I still have 120 natives ready to go but missed the planting window so am keeping them watered and fed in the mean time – ready for autumn’s first big rain.

With recent sales the studio is looking truely sparse – bare walls are certainly good motivation to get cracking. I have six new paintings on the go with plenty more in the pipeline. Along with two upcoming group shows and one art trail, I am also working towards a solo show and contemplating a Rangitikei themed show, maybe with other locals. There is never nothing to do, that’s for sure.

Last but not least, Shilo a leggy 2 year old short hair black cat has joined our family recently, she came from the SPCA in Whanganui and seems to be fitting in well.

If you are here reading this, thank you,
Warmest regards Sam

Plant Count: 630+

PLANTING A FOREST/LOOKING AFTER A GARDEN
Since moving to Hendersons Line, Marton in June 2017 Sam and Lorraine have planted a huge number of native plants and trees. Eventually they hope to cover most of the site (4 acres) with a diverse mix of plants including plenty of food for the bees and birds, This will be combined with walking tracks and hidden spaces to just sit or stand, listen, catch a breath

Wet feet – Spring 2021

Hello there from the very squelchy paddocks here in Marton New Zealand!

It has been a very soggy winter to say the least – still many new natives to go in the ground but have held off planting as the soil was just too wet – it will be an extra busy spring to get the remaining plants in and mulched. Hoping for a mild summer otherwise there will be a lot of monitoring and watering to be done.

Also halting proceeding, the regional council arrived part way through winter and did some clearing of the stream (flood prevention work). It felt like quite a brutal exercise at the time, and one which also put a stop to planting as their diggers and trucks made a huge mess. With mud everywhere, it became impossible to walk around the giant slip and slide in gumboots let alone pushing a wheelbarrow full of plants.

Since there was not a lot of point trying to plant the fields, attentions turned to the vegetable garden and a bit of an upgrade to the raised beds. In total seven large plus one small were built using iron from old roof. As it turned out – quite a big job, a gradual process working around existing beds and transplanting anything worth saving. It felt like a huge achievement to get this done! We are looking forward to seeing how these go over summer, and already enjoying the ease of weeding at a better height!

As the rain began to ease and I was finally able to do a bit of a path mow in the paddocks a week ago (early September) so it finally feels like things are getting back on track

Last but not least, a name for the project – Birdhaven, it popped into my mind while out in atrocious weather one day wondering how completely mad I had finally become. A fantail, as usual, was flitting around making me smile… and there it was – what this work is about.

The Birdhaven project – a steadily growing vision, this is exactly the motivation I needed to keep moving forward especially during the cold and rainy days of Winter. If you want to keep track, this project is also on Facebook and YouTube, links below.

Now please bring on the sunshine, I really need some warmth on my bones!
Thanks for stopping by, especially if you have read this far.
Cheers Sam

Follow Birdhaven on Facebook
Subscribe to Birdhaven on YouTube

April Exhibition and Autumn Plantings

May 2021 update

The Paekakariki Art Show has been and gone with good sales for which I am grateful moving into Winter.

Evening Walk Paekakariki NZ by NZ Artist Sam Lewry

Temperatures begin to drop. May has been a busy month in the garden with a general post summer clean up and recently 60 new trees going in the ground. Existing plants are putting on their Autumn growth spurt which is encouraging. Fingers crossed for another mild Winter. Everything is mulched and ready for a rainy spell.

FirstVideoOnYouTube

It seems that art has well and truely led me down the forest garden path – I find myself loving both painting and planting equally, so I have decided to resurrect my old You Tube channel. Once created for a course many years ago, sitting idle since then, it will be utilised for informal updates – mostly garden but also some studio.

This will certainly not be a HOW TO channel – more snippets and recordings of things evolving. Goodness knows there are plenty of more qualified people around, already offering tutorial style channels.

For now I have left comments on underneath videos but will wait and see how that goes, I understand that You Tube has a thriving population of trolls (a little scary), hopefully this channel will fly under the radar and it’ll be a while before they find me. Subscribe if you feel inclined, I would ultimately love to develop a small like minded community and safe space around this project.

Sam Lewry You Tube Channel
Click icon above to view and subscribe

Plant Count: 610+

PLANTING A FOREST/LOOKING AFTER A GARDEN
Since moving to Hendersons Line, Marton in June 2017 Sam and Lorraine have planted a huge number of native plants and trees. Eventually they hope to cover most of the site (4 acres) with a diverse mix of plants including plenty of food for the bees and birds, This will be combined with walking tracks and hidden spaces to just sit or stand, listen, catch a breath.

Heat of the summer

February 2021 update

Shade is where it is at right now.

Temperatures are rising very early in the day so have been getting up extra early to get work done before the heat kicks in. Up until recently the weather has been a good mix of sunny and rainy days so the little plants have been doing well. The grass has turned crispy, and finally stopped the mad mad growth so there is a bit of a mowing breather to be had.  There is a fire ban in place now.

Shady spot
Shady mulched path under Aka Ake

IMG_0341
Early morning summer heat beats down on Kanuka, Ribbonwood, and other natives

Since October a lot more mulch was put in place and seems to be helping the new plants get established with minimal watering, still remembering to water the babies coming on in pots, they have a nice shady spot by the glasshouse and the bigger ones will find their place once the first good rains of Autumn arrive.

The studio is crazy busy with several shows in the pipeline. Paintings, Solace and Into the Blue found their home in Whanganui this month so there will be some money in the kitty for new Autumn plants.

Plant Count: 550+

PLANTING A FOREST/LOOKING AFTER A GARDEN
Since moving to Hendersons Line, Marton in June 2017 Sam and Lorraine have planted a huge number of native plants and trees. Eventually they hope to cover most of the site (4 acres) with a diverse mix of plants including plenty of food for the bees and birds, This will be combined with walking tracks and hidden spaces to just sit or stand, listen, catch a breath.

Autumn Equinox

21st March 2021 update

The relief of cooler temperatures at night has arrived, thoughts are turning to an exciting new planting season, starting with some healthy new natives purchased at a local sale last weekend. These plants will be temporarily camping out with the other babies by the glasshouse until the the first good rainfall arrives – and the ground softens enough to make digging a bit easier, hopefully not to far away now. Tweaking curves of paths and garden shapes has begun using a mower and trimmer helping to visualise where the new arrivals will finally find their homes. The making of compost has stepped up a notch with the arrival of several nice big loads of horse poo (thank you Noel!) now mixed in to nine large bins, this should make great feed for the trees as they settle in.

Native trees in cart
Native trees in cart

Horse poo and sunrise

Plant Count: 550+

PLANTING A FOREST/LOOKING AFTER A GARDEN
Since moving to Hendersons Line, Marton in June 2017 Sam and Lorraine have planted a huge number of native plants and trees. Eventually they hope to cover most of the site (4 acres) with a diverse mix of plants including plenty of food for the bees and birds, This will be combined with walking tracks and hidden spaces to just sit or stand, listen, catch a breath.

Orchard changes, thank you and native birds

October 2020 update

It has been a really busy month in the studio with the Manawatu Art Trail deadline looming and Spring in full swing in the garden.

After some manic cutting with a hand saw on a way too hot day, the orchard has been opened up into the front yard area and it has made a big difference to the way the energy moves. Some existing garden beds have been rearranged and suddenly new pathways open up. I love this kind of instinctive and gradual design – waiting for the next move to reveal itself and the dogs are definitely enjoying the extra space to run around in. The timber removed from the fence has already been repurposed into the start of a trial composting area in the orchard which will be handy when finished. Additional hedging has also been planted to try and add further shelter from the wind for the orchard trees.

PlantsFromAnna
Thank you – feeling spoilt

A big thank you to Anna from Waikanae and Merle & Sam from Marton for their wonderful gifts of new home grown plants – being able to add these into the mix is so appreciated. The bigger specimens have already found their spots in the garden and are growing beautifully, with smaller plants still growing in a sheltered space by the greenhouse. I am beginning to lose count of the numbers now in the ground but it must be getting close to 500.

WoodPigeon
Kereru – NZ Wood Pigeon visit

The birds are also very busy here at the moment with their morning song and some seem to be building nests. The Tui are clearly back and vocal and there is often a fantail or two flitting about in the garden. Recently we had a visit from a Kereru – NZ Wood Pigeon – it’s a first in our time here and very exciting to see one so close up.

PLANTING A FOREST/LOOKING AFTER A GARDEN
Since moving to Hendersons Line, Marton in June 2017 Sam and Lorraine have planted a huge number of native plants and trees. Eventually they hope to cover most of the site (4 acres) with a diverse mix of plants including plenty of food for the bees and birds, This will be combined with walking tracks and hidden spaces to just sit or stand, listen, catch a breath.

May – September 2020 update

Another 200 natives planted

For reasons I won’t go into here, it is fair to say 2020 has been the worst year right from day one for us, With the help of friends, Lorraine and I managed to beat the biggest of all curve balls, then just as I thought we might catch our breath early March – that damned virus arrived.

You’d think a creative introvert hermit would be in their element at home, and I usually am but the loss of choice to wander was a kicker. Combine Winter income worries with two shows cancelled and level four lockdown there was no mojo left in the tank – exhaustion set in. In between doing the tedious necessities, I am pretty sure April was spent curled up in a ball. Thoroughly sick of myself after a month of glum, I put my gumboots on and dragged my sorry arse out to face the garden which had gone completely rogue, it was depressing! May and early June were spent putting things back in order, by mid June it was back in the fun zone planting and improvements including new compost bins and converting the chickens’ space for deep litter composting system. The fresh air and physical work has done wonders, it was a relief to feel my brain finally switching from survival, back into creative mode.

200 Natives
Lockdown finally ends – another 200 babies arrive from Awapuni Nurseries.

The Spring rain appears to have arrived with gusto, grass is greening up and growing like mad, the ground is very soggy under foot. The front paddocks are beginning to look almost like there is a plan (there isn’t), with paths and a vehicle track being cut with a weed eater and lawn mower. Over the past four months another 200 hundred natives have gone into the ground, cabbage trees, flax, pittosporum, ribbon wood and Ake Ake. so the total now stands at 450 approximately. A few casualties are expected.

Along with the natives some exotics that the bees should love have been planted too, just a few at this stage in a lower paddock to see how they cope with the soil. Also several varieties of basket willow are growing. Two fence lines have been pole planted with willow to provide some shelter from the winds. these will be coppiced back at some stage. Still debating the plantings for the western boundary.

Wheelbarrow with natives
2020 Autumn/Winter planting 200 natives

Wonky orchard beds
New garden beds in orchard

Using some on site recycled timber, the orchard has some new wonky garden beds, I just can’t do straight! Plans for this space include a six bay compost system, more beds and another entrance way from the house for easier access from the back door. There are still many more home grown babies to go in the ground, more natives plus lots cuttings taken for the orchard space and surrounding gardens this year – raspberries, black and red currants, strawberries, grape, fennel, comfrey, rosemary, lavender, daisy, and hydrangea. Fingers crossed for Karo and Tagasaste – Tree Lucerne seeds planted recently – I was sold on the latter when I read that wood pigeons love these trees.

Hopefully the next update will not be so far away, looking forward to sharing new creative work at the Manawtu art trail in November, fingers crossed. I hope you are coping with all that 2020 is throwing your way.

Plant Count: 550+

PLANTING A FOREST/LOOKING AFTER A GARDEN
Since moving to Hendersons Line, Marton in June 2017 Sam and Lorraine have planted a huge number of native plants and trees. Eventually they hope to cover most of the site (4 acres) with a diverse mix of plants including plenty of food for the bees and birds, This will be combined with walking tracks and hidden spaces to just sit or stand, listen, catch a breath.

September 2019 update

Another 100 natives for Autumn

A successful exhibition at the Kapiti Gallery during September has meant there is now $500 in the kitty for new planting, this will pay for another 100 natives. While we would love to get them in the ground now, with summer fast approaching, and on the advice of a much wiser gardening/horticultural guru (thank you Alona’s mum) this lot of planting will now happen in Autumn 2020 to give the new plants the best chance of survival.

We have also had the very kind offer from a friend who has said she will pot up the random native seedlings that pop up in her garden that she does not have room for. She is going to save them for us so they can have a chance here. This is so exciting – every little bit helps as it is quite a daunting area to plant out, thank you Anna.

GumbootsAndMudSM

Plant Count: 350

PLANTING A FOREST/LOOKING AFTER A GARDEN
Since moving to Hendersons Line, Marton in June 2017 Sam and Lorraine have planted a huge number of native plants and trees. Eventually they hope to cover most of the site (4 acres) with a diverse mix of plants including plenty of food for the bees and birds, This will be combined with walking tracks and hidden spaces to just sit or stand, listen, catch a breath.

August 2019 update

In addition to creative work, Sam and her partner are also planting natives and a few fruiting trees as they can be afforded. Eventually they hope to cover most of the place (4 acres) in trees for the bees and birds. They have so far managed to plant over 250 natives and a few fruit trees since moving to Hendersons Line, Marton in June 2017.

Marton is muddy, really really muddy, it’s clay, which makes it very wet in winter and hard as a rock in summer – difficult growing conditions to say the least! There has been good success with Flax, Ake Ake, Cabbage Trees, Ribbonwood, Kanuka and Manuka – choosing carefully to suit the horrible soil conditions there have been few casualties so far. Fingers crossed.

There is still plenty of space for more trees, so as much as can be spared from the sale of any paintings will be used to continue planting work. If you are thinking about visiting the studio and you would like to see the trees, Sam will gladly take you for a walk in the paddocks – you might want to bring some gumboots in the Winter time!

NewBabies
Some new babies recently planted alongside a wonky fence

Paddock
Foreground recent planting, background some older flax and Ake Ake doing well

 

Plant Count: 250

PLANTING A FOREST/LOOKING AFTER A GARDEN
Since moving to Hendersons Line, Marton in June 2017 Sam and Lorraine have planted a huge number of native plants and trees. Eventually they hope to cover most of the site (4 acres) with a diverse mix of plants including plenty of food for the bees and birds, This will be combined with walking tracks and hidden spaces to just sit or stand, listen, catch a breath.