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Read some of Bee’s Articles

Kākā Conundrum

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NZ Gardener magazine, May 2023 Experts think they know why native kākā were attacking trees in Wellington Bee Dawson Kākā attacking a tree. Up until the 19th century, the lively…

Snowdrops at Terrace Station

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NZ Gardener magazine, August 2023 Kate Foster is the fourth generation of her family to live in Terrace Station near the Rakaia River, and she is passionate about preserving the…
ferns

History of ferns

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NZ Gardener magazine, June 2021 The lush beauty and mystery of ferns have fascinated botanists and collectors for hundreds of years. Bee Dawson details how the plants have come to…
common ground

Common Ground: Garden Histories of Aotearoa by Matt Morris (review)

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New Zealand Journal of History, 55, 2 (2021). First published in New Zealand Journal of History, Volume 55, Number 2 October 2021 Common Ground: Garden Histories of Aotearoa. By Matt Morris.…
aswan

The Aswan Botanical Garden

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Gardener’s Journal, February 2021 Horticulture in ancient Egypt was a flourishing business. Indigenous flora was prized, crops grown with the greatest of skill and exotic plants gathered from afar. In…
herbal

Ancient medicine: the herbs & cures we still use today

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First published in NZ Gardener magazine’s July 2018 issue; and Stuff.co.nz, 2 July 2018 Originally written for NZ Gardener magazine The discovery of plant pollen in a Neanderthal burial site…
fuschia denise ramsay

Botanical art: science, art and nature on canvas

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First published in NZ Gardener magazine’s March 2018 issue; and Stuff.co.nz, 30 March 2018 Originally written for NZ Gardener magazine Nearly everyone has a camera with them in their phone these…
sue

Meet the maker: Wellington-based botanical artist Sue Wickison

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First published in NZ Gardener magazine’s March 2018 issue; and Stuff.co.nz, 23 March 2018 Originally written for NZ Gardener magazine Botanical artist Sue Wickison is fascinated by a plant that you could…
chow

From gold mines to green fields: the contribution of Chinese market gardeners in New Zealand

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Stuff.co.nz, 12 December 2017 Guangdong in southern China was struggling with an overpopulation problem at that time, and the very real prospect of starvation prompted some traditionally home loving men to set…
sweet peas

Mafia, monks and mass hysteria: The fascinating history of sweet peas

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Stuff.co.nz, 28 March 2017 Originally written for NZ Gardener magazine The story starts with Lathyrus odoratus, a plant which produces small bicoloured bluish-maroon and violet flowers with a wonderfully intense fragrance.…