Tropical delight on the shore The brief on this Mairangi Bay property in simple terms was “I want to be in Fiji without leaving my backyard”. With this in mind and an openess for creativity we went about our task with a passion. The interest and challenge was the movement and placement of 40 tonne […]
Michael Mansvelt designs a garden with a subtropical feel that relates to the architecture surrounding it.
Fragrance Have you noticed how a lot of blokes who are gardeners tend to keep the emphasis on utilitarian function, producing food in the form of fruit, vegetables and nuts and are not so much interested in the purely aesthetic side of gardening? And women tend, more often, to have aesthetics at the top of […]
Part one Think of the tropics and images of leafy lush spaces filled with exotic vibrant coloured plants come to mind. Those lucky enough to live in a warm climate, both moist and dry, have a huge variety of gorgeous subtropical plants to choose from. I am passionate about Subtropical gardens and I adore subtropical […]
Replace the woodchip and bark below your shrubs with a living layer of plants. My last piece was about allowing grasslands – mainly lawns, to grow more naturally and to include flowers both for our enjoyment and for the benefit of those crucial insects, the pollinators. Here I will look in a bit more detail […]
by Rebecca Wilson from Earthwork Landscape Architects in Wellington The courtyard area makes use of the sunny, sheltered aspect with a riot of flowering, bold foliage plants, whilst the lower courtyard is shady and used more as a viewing garden.This garden, owned by a couple with Pacific and Asian roots, incorporates a mix of both subtropical and Japanese […]
Peter from Peter Fry Landscapes talks about a recent blank canvas project. This rural property in Okura was just waiting to be landscaped. With a blank canvas the client understood that landscaping was not just about putting in some plants and lawn. With the benefits of a comprehensive concept plan all their needs were met and more. […]
New bromeliad from breeder McGregor Smith at Russell Fransham Subtropicals: Neoregelia ‘Alyssa’. Unusual form with strongly recurved, layered foliage from an unusually tall stem. Vivid cerise centre for 12 months during flowering. Needs bright shade. A terrific garden specimen, thriving outdoors under trees in frost-free conditions. Named after McGregor’s 3 yr old grand-daughter.
