Matariki Plantings

This week is Matariki, traditionally a time for remembrance, celebration and fertility for Maori people. Among other things the appearance of the Matariki stars helped them decide when to plant their spring crops:

“The coming season’s crops were planted according to the portents read in the Matariki star cluster. If the stars were clear and bright, it was a sign that a favourable and productive season lay ahead, and planting would begin in September. If the stars appeared hazy and closely bunched together, a cold winter was in store and planting was put off until October.”

We celebrated Matariki here at Arataki School, too. Each gardening group planted a shrub:

The Sunflowers planted two pink manuka into the birds and bees garden, as the pink flower attracts bees.

The Cosmos group planted Larry the lime in the citrus garden.

The Dahiias planted a kawakawa.

The Frangapanis planted a dwarf grevillia that the butterflies will love.

The Zinnias continued planting the manuka hedge.

And the Hebe group planted three hebes (of course!) by the front office.

After the planting we all came to the community room. Our whaea explained how the garden club was started many years ago by Mrs Heath, with nine students after school, and over time has evolved to where we now have between 90 to 100 gardeners every Thursday after lunch. You can see it’s not just the plants that have been growing here at Arataki!

Then we shared kai that the volunteers bought. It was a great celebration.