Just before we start winter (almost 12 more days to go) on 22 June at 2.57 am, it might be a nice idea to look at planting trees 

The soil is still relatively warm – and hopefully not too wet yet 

What am I looking for there? 

Fruit trees you really like – take your favourite variety of apple or pear or an elegant, fast-growing Sanguine peach that doesn’t show a lot of brown rot or any other typical peach diseases. 

Your heart goes out to spring and summer and now’s the time to plant that stuff 

Remember: if you are short of space, grab a young tree with two (or three) varieties grafted on the Main stem/Trunk; 

Have a look at the catalogues of New Zealand’s best tree Nurseries. 

As an entomologist, this is what I’d be looking for: host plants/Trees for our native insect taonga. 

Mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus) (AKA marble leaf) is one I use all the time. Tree weta love to eat it (and I use heaps of the leaves to feed my captive specimens. 

Maori use the soft wood of mahoe to make fire, by rubbing it with Kaikomako (Pennantia corymbosa) a very hard wood species, endemic to NZ. 

Both small-ish trees produce fruits that are devoured by some of our native bird species: the violet-blue Mahoe seeds are eaten by kereru and geckoes. 

The purple berries of Kaimakomako are in demand by birds, large and small. 

Plant both trees and you can make fire, boy-scout style! 

Another great example is planting a putaputaweta (Carpodetus serratus) also known as marble leaf. 

Native of New Zealand and serving many creatures well. 

One of the most favourite host plants of the Puriri moth. The caterpillars live inside this tree for many years – growing into a beautiful bright-green moth in the North Island of Aotearoa. 

When the moths have vacated their tunnel in the putaputaweta, they leave behind a perfect second-hand dwelling for our Tree weta. 

Planting this tree will support a heap of native species through an ecological system and food chain.