Latest news with #DanHall
ABC News
6 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
Camellia Collection
Sophie visits a nursery that specialises in growing camellias, providing some ideas for garden colour in the cooler months. There are more than 300 species of camellias worldwide, although the two most commonly grown and the Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua . From these, many thousands of hybrids and cultivars have been bred. Third generation grower Dan Hall points out the key features of the two types: Japonica Varieties tend to have larger, rounder flowers and bigger leaves, and prefer part shade or protection from afternoon sun; they generally flower in winter or early spring. They can also be larger plants, although there are smaller cultivars now available. Sasanquas Have smaller flowers and leaves and are fast growing, making them better suited to hedging. They tend to flower in autumn or early winter, and are more tolerant of sunlight and warmer conditions. Both prefer slightly acidic soil, regular watering, and good drainage. A favourite of Dan's is 'Roger Hall', a red formally shaped double that was named after his late grandfather. Modern hybrids offer a range of attributes, from the long-flowering 'Sweet Jane', which can flower from autumn to spring, to hardy floribunda hybrids such as 'Illumination' that produces masses of flowers from a young age. There are even some ground-covering prostrate forms, including 'Marge Miller', which can grow up to 3m wide. If you have a few different camellias in your garden or nearby, and seed heads form on your plants, you could try growing the seeds. It might take five or six years for the new seedlings to start flowering, but you could end up with a completely new variety! To propagate an exact copy of your plant, take cuttings. Dan also explains how to create a weeping standard – by training a weeping form upright, supported by a stake, and removing any growth along the trunk, leaving just the branches at the top. Alternatively, graft a weeping form onto the straight stem of a sturdier species. Camellias can also be espaliered against an east-facing wall; most sasanqua species would be suitable for this, Dan says. Problems Yellowing of leaves can often be a sign of pH problems – it should be about 5-6. If your soil is too alkaline, you can reduce the pH by adding iron chelates. Hot morning sun on wet buds or flowers can also cause browning and other problems. Dan says a common mistake is to put a small plant into a large pot – this leaves too much wet soil around the small rootball, which can cause root rot. COMMON CAMELLIA Camellia japonica cv. SASANQUA CAMELLIA Camellia sasanqua cv. CAMELLIA 'DESIRE' Camellia japonica cv. CAMELLIA 'TINSIE' Camellia japonica cv. CAMELLIA 'GREAT EASTERN' Camellia japonica cv. CAMELLIA 'ROGER HALL' Camellia japonica cv. CAMELLIA 'SLIM N TRIM' Camellia sasanqua cv. CAMELLIA 'EARLY PEARLY' Camellia sasanqua cv. CAMELLIA 'YULETIDE' Camellia sasanqua cv. CAMELLIA 'AVALANCHE' Camellia sasanqua cv. CAMELLIA 'SWEET JANE' Camellia sasanqua cv. CAMELLIA 'E.G. WATERHOUSE' Camellia × williamsii cv. CAMELLIA 'CHANSONETTE' Camellia sasanqua cv. CAMELLIA 'MARGE MILLER' Camellia sasanqua cv. CAMELLIA 'SNOW' Camellia sasanqua cv.
1News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Auckland FC players on 'unbelievable' Premier's Plate win
Auckland FC put an exclamation mark on their 2024/25 campaign yesterday evening, beating Perth Glory 1-0 in front of a nearly sold-out home crowd before lifting the A-League Premier's Plate at their first attempt. The team were already premiers before walking onto the pitch at Go Media Mt Smart Stadium for one last time in the regular season. After 90 minutes, 28 shots, and a goal direct from a corner by Marlee François, Auckland FC lifted the trophy. Speaking to 1News following the game, Auckland FC forward Max Mata said the club's achievement this season had been 'unbelievable'. 'I'm from Auckland, so to do it in front of the home crowd is unbelievable,' he said. Midfielder Cam Howieson said: 'It means a lot, obviously. This group of players, we came together brand new, and it's a dream come true, what we've accomplished." Vice-captain and defender Tommy Smith said lifting the trophy at home was 'brilliant'. 'It was already in the bag, but to put another win on the board in front of the home fans in the last regular season game is a great feeling." Defender Francis De Vries believed pulling off a trophy-winning season was 'definitely' possible from day one. 'It's always a possibility. Was it realistic, did we think we were going to do this, I don't know,' he said. 'Some of the more experienced players knew that we could do this, and the coaching staff did too. 'It feels great to have achieved it.' This season marked a huge bounce-back for head coach Steve Corica, who had left his previous role at Sydney FC after losing the first three games of the 2023/24 season. He said winning the premiership meant 'everything'. 'That's what it's all about. We strive to be the best, and we are the most consistent team over the course of the season, so to hold up the Premier's Plate, it means a lot." The celebrations won't be too long for Auckland FC, however, as the team now turns their attention to finals football, and a two-leg semi-final later this month to try and punch their ticket to the A-League grand final. Defender Dan Hall and chief executive Nick Becker spoke to Breakfast about the growth of support for Auckland FC this season. (Source: 1News) Speaking to Breakfast this morning, defender Dan Hall said the team celebrated 'accordingly' last night. He said Corica had told the players 'not to undervalue what we've accomplished'. Hall moved to Auckland from the Central Coast Mariners at the start of the season and said it was 'incredible' to see support grow over the season. 'When I first came to Auckland, you wouldn't really see any Auckland FC shirts around, but now, you walk the streets, and I see them pretty much every time I go to the shops. It's been incredible to see the support. 'We wanted to win for them and I'm glad that we did.' Auckland FC chief executive Nick Becker said the city had been hungry for a football club. 'They're ready to support a professional football club, but they wanted something different, and I think we've offered that, and we've shown that we're the real deal on the pitch, and there's an amazing experience around.'
