By Josh Tabley

You couldn’t have had a better day with the weather, fine and warm. Our first destination on our field trip was Matai Nursery. Matai Nurseries are a large and successful Waimate, South Canterbury based nursery carrying an extensive collection of trees, shrubs, and grasses. This Nursery is run by Lester Davey. Lester says that New Zealand Natives are increased in popularity because they create colour, texture, form and shape. Also they make a natural effect when they are mixed together. He has a huge variety of shrubs and they are low maintenance. Lester also sells his plants to the Conservation that have lost their native vegetation from fires or pests. Lester freights plants Nationwide.

Lester’s main shrubs are Hebes, Coprosmas, Aciphylla and a wide variety of Native Grasses. They are either grown in 2.5 litre Pots or root trainers. Lester uses an unusual but effective method for weed control, liverwort, mosses and moisture retention by adding a local supply of shingle on the surface of pots. Not many Nurseries use this technique. The majority of his crops are on Capillary Beds. Because of extreme dry weather, Lester uses over head sprinklers to irrigate his crops. And finally, special thanks to Lester, who put on a great morning tea for us all.