Come to Ellerslie Flower Show

Good Morning New Zealand. Yesterday was rather wet at the Ellerslie Flower Show in Christchurch. However, the weather did not stop the dedicated gardeners enjoying the show. Indeed the Kiwicare stand was maybe even busier answering questions and solving problems than on Wednesday.


Today is looking like being a much better day weather wise. There may be the odd shower this afternoon but that will only serve to keep the dust down and there is plenty of indoor space and covered area to shelter while the showers pass. You could always come and visit us at Kiwicare. We will give you a warm welcome. The Pest Advice and the Garden Guru may even be able to help you solve any garden or home pest problems.


We hope to see you there.


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Hot and Busy Yesterday, Today Looks Cooler

Hello All,


Just a quick note to update you on yesterday and today at Ellerslie Flower Show.


Yesterday was a very successful first day day at the show. Our team of five experts were frequently all involved in answering questions form visitors. The glorious weather brought out the crowds and everyone I spoke to waxed lyrical abut how great the show is this year. The highlights of the show according to most that I spoke to are the English Garden and the Life and Death fungi garden. Neither of which I have yet had time to go and see.


Today the weather is looking like being a little cooler. Which may be good. I hope it will not put too many people visiting the show as much of the exhibition is under cover and you will still get a very warm welcome.


Come and visit us at site CR6 and Be In To WIN a fabulous gift box full of NZ Made goodies.


See you there.


Go to Kiwicare

Bring Your Sun Hat

Well the Ellerslie Flower Show opens to the public today at 10.00am. Yesterday evening the show was opened for the awards ceremony and a garden party to raise money for charity. In glorious Christchurch weather guests dressed in their finery, relaxed and wandered around the site, glass of wine in hand.


Today (Wednesday) looks like being another stunning day so I have slapped on the sunscreen and will be heading to the show to answer the public's questions on pest control in the garden and home. I hope I will see you there. Bring your hat.


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Kiwicare Website Wins Hitwise Top 10 Award

Kiwicare - http://www.kiwicare.co.nz/


Twice a year, Hitwise awards the 10 most popular websites across some of our 160+ categories.

From July - December, 2009, www.kiwicare.co.nz was ranked #6 in the Hitwise New Zealand 'Business and Finance - Manufacturing and Industrial' industry based on monthly average market share.

This ranking relates to New Zealand based users visiting New Zealand websites.

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Ellerslie and Butterflies

Ellerslie is creeping up on me. Today I will go to the site in Hagley Park to check that our site is ready for set up. Thanks to Portstone Garden Centre, of Ferry Road Christchurch for supplying a great selection of plants and pots for our display.

I have had a couple of calls this week enquiring about how to deal with aphids on swan plants used for feeding monarch butterflies. One of the calls was from a large breeder of butterflies who claims that he has successfully used NO Insect Maldison to get rid of the aphids quickly. Then he washes off the maldison thoroughly. Lets the swan plants dry and then can put the caterpillars on the plants and they don't come to any harm. As maldison is non systemic I can see how this might work, but care would need to be taken to make sure all residues are removed.

NO Insects Maldison is an excellent product for controlling aphids rapidly. Noramlly it would not be necessary to remove the product after treatment, unless you want to prevent harm to beneficial insects such as Monarch butterflies.

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See Kiwicare at the Ellerslie Flower Show

The Ellerslie International Flower Show March 10th-14th in Hagley park, Christchurch.

The show looks like being bigger and better than ever. Kiwicare will be there at site CR6C-F. This is one of the covered retail sites on the east side along the Park Terrace fence. Come along and see us. We will try and answer any questions you might have on garden care, pest control or our products.

Go in the draw to win a Beautiful Box Co. Gift box packed with Kiwicare garden products and other delicious gifts provided by Beautiful Box Co.

We will aslo be displaying plants and garden ornaments from the Portstone Garden Centre of Ferry Road Christchurch.

We hope to see you there.

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Fleas Bite

The surge in visitors to the Kiwicare website from people seeking information on how to get rid of fleas is continuing and growing. The recent warm weather has seen flea numbers explode around New Zealand.

In a previous blog Fleas Take a Big Bite I described how to control fleas and more information can be found on the Kiwicare Flea page.

A question that has cropped up a few times is "My dog has fleas, why don't they bite me?"

Dog fleas prefer to feed on dogs, cat fleas prefer to feed on cats and bird fleas prefer to feed on birds. So if the natural host of the flea is available they will feed on that host. However, cat fleas are the least fussy and will feed on us if they are hungry or the cat is not immediately available. Also, dog or bird fleas will feed on us if their host is not available. For example if there is a bird nest in your loft and the birds fledge and leave, any fleas left behind will come hunting for a blood feed from you.

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