Winter Wonderland

There’s an argument to be made that it’s not the snow that’s beautiful, rather it’s how the snow frames and defines the landscape when it rests on trees and plants that creates the beauty.

Lady in Arrowtown walking track surrounded by mountains in a sunny Winter day.

Think of the bare branches that come to sparkling life when covered in the natural glitter of the season. The topiary featuring a white top hat that’s just a little bit showbiz (or snowbiz?), and the hedges that hold a plentiful supply of snowballs, ripe for picking, packing and dispatching with glee.

Photo: Arrowtown mountains view, Winter 2024.

Queenstown landscape and walking track, Winter 2024

If the timing is right, that’s exactly what can happen during the Winter school holidays. Nature’s ability to entertain and bring joy changes with the seasons and Winter might be the favourite season for ruddy-faced children who are seemingly impervious to the cold.

Yellow and green frozen leaves showing the beauty of Winter at Easy Big Trees Nursery.

For the rest of us, we have to wrap up warm, scarves bunched high and woolly hats pulled low. But it’s worth the effort. The bracing revitalization of the landscape in Winter makes for a wonderful stretch of the legs, the fresh Winter air working its magic on the mind. 

Photo: Arrowtown walking track, Winter 2024.

Two ladies walking in the beautiful Arrowtown walking track with bare tree branches and snowy mountains in the landscape.

And if you don’t fancy a sojourn into the wilderness, we highly recommend rugging up and filling up a large mug of hot chocolate, then simply standing outside in your garden and letting your eyes explore the day. You can even add a wee drop of something naughty in the chocolate. You know…just for the sake of warmth. Whichever way you enjoy Winter, we hope you are enjoying it.

A person walking in a beautiful Queenstown park with snow on the ground and on top of the trees.
Harry Winter planting tips: One way to keep your hands warm in Winter is to keep them busy with some planting! It might sound like a strange time to do this but we’re operating on nature’s timeline here, and nature is making sure the soil is moist, while keeping bugs and plant diseases at bay. Your new plants will appreciate the time getting used to their new home before Spring kicks in.
Harry Winter Fruit Tree Pruning Tips: It's true alright. Some work now will reap a bountiful harvest next Summer, when you really do get to enjoy the fruits of your labour. The key is to stick to the 3 D's of pruning, getting rid of anything that's dead, diseased or damaged. Go about your work on a dry day and wear a few layers, so you can take them off as needed. Different fruit trees need to be pruned slightly differently but in general, just remember to not get too carried away. Trimming back by about 20% is a good rule of thumb.
Testimonial from Kimberley, Easy Big Trees client from Wanaka.
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