Chickens

I love having chickens as part of my garden set-up. They provide so many benefits, from nutrient rich eggs and their wonderfully quirky company to their weed and bug devouring capabilities (just to mention my top picks).

Kāhu / Swamp harrier

Culling the local mischief of magpies has allowed this native to take back the skies uncontested from all but other Kāhu here in Kingseat.

Perennial pūhā

Pūhā, originally describing Sonchus kirkii, has evolved to encompass introduced edible sow thistle species. The latter is perennially prolific throughout my garden and a regular addition to leafy green harvests.

A warming climate decreases microbial diversity

Home ngahere foray, Omata, Taranaki

It's always special to investigate the ngahere/bush that I spent so much of my childhood exploring, even more so in early June after a torrential downpour and hundreds of ferocious thunder storms!

Kaimai Mamaku Autumn foray

Kaimai Mamaku describes the forested mountain range stretching from the Coromandel mountain range right down to Rotorua. Interestingly Kaimai roughly translates to fermented food and Mamaku is a name for the mighty black tree fern. Mamaku is known to have two edible components, the young fronds and the pith from the upper half of the ferns trunk.

Friendly fungi announce themselves to their hosts

Lentinula novae-zelandiae / New Zealand Shitake

While true Shitake is not found naturally here in Aotearoa we have an edible relative, Lentinula novae-zelandiae. I was lucky enough to find this rare specimen on some decaying native wood in the Waitākere ranges.

Harwoods Hole, Tākaka Hill, Abel Tasman National Park

There's nothing quite like mountain beech / tawairauriki forest in autumn. The mycorrhizal relationship present in these unique forests form some of the most visually stunning fungi.

The humble hessian sack meets mycelium

Hessian sacks are by far my favourite free resource. I get them by the boot load from a large local coffee importer and roaster, they have become my go to fungi feeding, moisture retaining weed mat.

Spatial distribution of pores helps determine where carbon is stored in the soil

Isaria sinclairii

Isaria sinclairii is a species of entomopathogenic fungus mostly infecting the underground nymphs of cicadas. It produces myriocin, from which the synthetic drug fingolimod, a treatment for multiple sclerosis, was developed.

Language of fungi derived from their electrical spiking activity

Raupeka / Earina autumnalis / Easter orchid

An epiphytic orchid with matted roots, broad leaves and strongly scented white flowers in the Autumn. This specimen was found on a fallen tānekaha trunk.

Rō / Orthodera novaezealandiae / New Zealand mantis

This endemic species is easily identifiable by the bright blue dot on the forelimbs and the yellowish hue of the upper forelimbs. Sadly this garden friends numbers are in decline as Miomantis caffra, the introduced South African species becomes more and more entrenched here.

Waiū atua or Waiū o Kahukura / Euphorbia glauca

I let our endemic Euphorbia fill all the spaces that common milkweed would usually inhabit. It has also been speculated that the milky sap could have positive effects for some skin ailments.

The future is fungi

Mycorrhizal fungi promote greater tree species diversity