Matty presents: The Paralympics Games

For those of you who have been glued to the screens over the last few weeks, the good news is the action continues when the Paralympics opens on Thursday 29th of August in Paris.

Being able to enjoy the Paralympics on TV may seem considerably modern, and having televised coverage is certainly rather recent, yet the history of the Paralympics dates back to  1948 and the ‘Stoke Mandeville Games’. This was the forerunner to today’s competitions and has its roots in rehabilitative sport being used to help World War II veterans with their recovery.

Matty fundraising for the Special Olympics 2024 and smashing the SuperBowl Invercargill.

Our very own Matty will certainly be glued to the TV screens in the coming days. A member of our team for over 20 years, he harbours ambitions of attending the Paralympics Games and was recently fundraising to go to the New Zealand 2024 Special Olympics. Matty is a Tenpin Champion Bowler and a strong competitor who could rightly name the wreaths traditionally given to medalists, made also from this week’s tree: the Bay Laurel.

LAURUS nobilis – Bay Laurel Tree

The narrowly ovate leaves, with their high gloss finish, are lightly aromatic. The smell is definitively herbal and akin to thyme or oregano. Small yellow flowers are followed by dark, black berries in the Summer months. Mediterranean in origin and appearance, yet surprisingly hardy and tolerant of coastal areas.

– Evergreen
– Suitable for screen, hedge and topiary planting
– Can grow up to 5×3 metres
– Available in 8/10L, 12L and 25/35L container

Photo: LAURUS nobilis – Bay Laurel Tree in 25/35L container, 1.8m+ height, 5 years old.

Line of LAURUS nobilis - Bay Laurel Trees with lush green foliage at Easy Big Trees Nursery, Invercargill.

As a final note of interest, many assume the term ‘Paraympics’ to be a portmanteau (a blending of two words) with ‘para’ referring to a physical impairment or condition. In fact, ‘para’ comes from the Greek preposition meaning ‘beside or alongside’. Its meaning is that Paralympics are the parallel Games to the Olympics and illustrates how the two movements exist side-by-side.

LAURUS nobilis - Bay Laurel trees in Remarkables Park - Queenstown and Gibbston Valley, both supplied by Easy Big Trees.
LAURUS nobilis - Bay Laurel trees in Hamilton Gardens and Trott's Garden , Ashburton.
LAURUS nobilis - Bay Laurel standard trees in Dunedin Botanic Gardens.
LAURUS nobilis - Bay Laurel flowers, foliage and fruit close up.
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 Robyn, Easy Big Trees client from Wellington: "Impressed by the quality, size and selection... even shipped to North Island. Our client is very pleased with their new specimen tree".
Archives