The garden in September

Late September in the gardens brings the beautiful blooms of the Magnolia hybrid "Apollo" [above] This is just one of the many magnolias bred in New Zealand by Taranaki nurseryman, Felix Jury.  We also have another of his hybrids - Vulcan - which is a deep wine colour and flowers late August.

Below [left] is the New Zealand native clematis - Clematis paniculata or Puawhananga.
This flowering climber is often seen on the Rimutaka Hill Road at this time of the year.
Also making a splash in the garden is the old favourite - Chaenomeles japonica - or just commonly called "japonica" [photo below right]. This is the old-fashioned variety - red/pink in colour.  Next to it is a white form of Magnolia Stellata or Star Magnolia.