Saturday 11th OCTOBER 2014

Darren Bevan: Movies and DVD

AT THE CINEMA

The Judge starring Robert Downey Jr - Darren’s verdict: Wait for DVD.  For the full review visit:  http://darrens-world-of-entertainment.blogspot.co.nz/2014/10/the-judge-movie-review.html

Let's Be Cops should be arrested - Darren’s verdict: Give it a miss.  For the full review visit:  http://darrens-world-of-entertainment.blogspot.co.nz/2014/10/lets-be-cops-movie-review.html

A Kiwi doco about Britpop band Pulp: A film about Life, Death and Supermarkets is brilliant small screen entertainment - Darren's verdict: Rush to see it!  For the full review visit:  http://darrens-world-of-entertainment.blogspot.co.nz/2014/07/nziff-review-pulp-film-about-life-death.html

For all Darren's reviews and info go to Darren's blog - type Darren's World of Entertainment into Google and there it is!

NICI WICKES: Food

This week Nici is in avocado country and gives us her famous guacomole recipe! For more inspiration visit  http://www.niciwickes.com/  or her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/niciwickes

LYNDA HALLINAN: Gardening

FRUIT TREES:

Fruit trees blossom in a wave in spring, starting with almonds and plums and progressing to cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, apples, pears and quinces. It's such a pretty time of the year, but it also gives you some indication of the sort of crop you're going to get. My apricot trees have about five blossoms each, whereas the Golden Queen peaches have hundreds of blooms.

Prettiest blossoms? Definitely quinces, although my trees are on their last warning. If they get leaf blight this year I'll pulling them out - it's ugly and I don't spray. 

As soon as apple trees come into blossom, you know it's time to act if you want to avoid the attentions of the irritating codling moth worm. The codling moth lays its eggs from now, and they hatch out and wriggle into the tiny developing fruit, where the fat little maggots stay, nicely tucked away out of sight, eating their way out of your apples in summer.

Hang pheremone traps now - you can buy these from garden centres - to monitor moth numbers, and when you start catching them, spray with a low toxic caterpillar specific spray such as Kiwicare's Organic Caterpillar Bio Control or Yates Caterpillar Killer. These are natural sprays that only kill caterpillars and won't harm bees or other beneficial insects.

Don't be alarmed if your stonefruit trees develop ugly blistering on the leaves about now. It's leaf curl and it's a fungal disease. On small trees you can pick the worst of the leaves off and burn them to stop the spread of the spores in wet spring weather, but really this is a problem that's largely cosmetic. To deal to it properly you need to spray with copper in winter.

If your fruit trees have come through winter on a bit of a lean, stake them up now. Mulch around the trees too, to reduce competition from weeds, and scatter fruit tree fertiliser around the drip line of the tree. Water it in well - or try something like liquid potash if you're getting stingy crops, then keep your fingers crossed for a fruitful summer.

JOHN HAWKESBY: Wine

French Champagne Cattier Brut Premier Cru NV $59.95

Peter Yealands  P.G.R Aromatic Blend 2014 $15.99

Rod McDonald "One Off Albarino" 2014, $29.95

Rod McDonald "One Off Sangiovese Rose" 2014, $29.95

MIKE YARDLEY: Travel

This week Mike takes us down The Blue Ridge Parkway, one of America's great drives. For further travel news, tips and inspiration, check out http://www.fortheloveoftravel.net.nz/

KERRE WOODHAM: Books

Hand to Mouth: The Truth About Being Poor in a Wealthy World by Linda Tirado, Virago $34.99

ANDREW DICKENS: Music

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga "Cheek to Cheek" Andrew's verdict: 4 stars out of 5.  I prefer this album over Barbra Streisand's Partners.  At times Gaga is a little overpowering but her classical training and piano skills gives her a strong skill set.  the thing works.  if she hadn't been a pop goddess she's be our generations Liza Minelli.