Videos

One of my favourite English country gardens - in New Zealand!

By Michael

Oct 8, 2019

Barewood, in the Awatere Valley of NZ, is the realised dream of the visionary Caroline Ferraby. Generous, gracious lawns connected by magical avenues, as background to gorgeous colour themed plantings of roses, perennials and bulbs.

Winterhome NZ, vista upon vista

By Michael

Sep 1, 2019

Winterhome, on the stunning Kekerengu coastline, is a garden of formal, interconnecting vistas that leaves you gasping at the vision and sense of scale of its creator. The ocean views are spectacular, but the garden views are even better!

Simply the best way to learn about garden design

By Michael

Aug 8, 2019

I can’t think of a more enjoyable – or effective – way to learn about garden design than to do so on the road, visiting exemplary gardens with a group of like-minded people. That’s why I’ve cooked up this idea of Travelling Masterclasses. They don’t assume you’re a master. They’re created in order to assist ...

Somehow Flaxmere has escaped my many visits to the South Island of NZ. I’d seen many photos, but nothing prepared me for the epic reality. The vision, the determination, the sheer grit of creato ...

A lifetime of exemplary achievement

By Michael

Jun 11, 2019

It’s hard to imagine that it’s even possible that a garden like Trott’s Garden, just outside of Christchurch, NZ, could be created in one lifetime, and by one man. It’s an astonishing achiev ...

The smaller the garden, the bigger the design challenge

By Michael

May 30, 2019

It would be easy to make the mistake of thinking that the bigger the garden, the bigger the design challenge. But the exact opposite is true. The smaller the space, the more discipline is required ...

Videos

Winterhome NZ, vista upon vista

Simply the best way to learn about garden design

Flaxmere NZ. Try keeping me away

A lifetime of exemplary achievement

The smaller the garden, the bigger the design challenge