Where were you born and where did you spend most of your childhood?
Having been born and brought up in Christchurch at Mum and Dad’s nursery, Woodland Nursery in Harewood Road, I call Christchurch home.
Where do you live now and with whom?
I still live here and have 1000+ bees as company in the garden. I also spend time at the seaside in Redcliffs with my partner.
What aroused your interest in gardening or horticulture?
Living on a nursery and working with plants as a teenager after school encouraged me to learn about plants. I’ve always loved the shape and form of plants and interesting combinations of varieties. We’d often go to the Botanic Gardens at weekends as a family and my parents would identify different varieties. It rubbed off on me!
What gardening or horticultural interests do you have now?
I have a Landscape Design business where I specialize in creating beautiful, functional, usable outdoor living rooms and garden areas. My business is based at Terra Viva Home and Garden which also continues to inspire my love of plants.
What’s your favourite plant and why?
As a favourite plant, I choose Miscanthus morning lights.
I love it for its form, for the movement of the foliage, for its autumn flower heads, and its winter structure.
What’s been your most challenging and/or rewarding gardening project ?
As a landscape Designer I’ve had a variety of interesting sites, plans and clients to work with. The most challenging and rewarding though was my Ellerslie Edible exhibition garden in 2010. We built the garden for the show, then relocated it to the Cholmondeley Children’s home in Governors Bay where the children could learn about the plants, look after them and eat the produce from them.
When did you join the CHS and why?
I’ve been a member of the horticultural Society for at least the last 15 years and enjoy spending time with people who love plants.
What is your passion for the future of the CHS?
The CHS is an organization that promotes horticultural interests and is a big part of gardening in Christchurch. I’m really happy to be a part of it and support the growth of horticulture in Christchurch.