Auckland Garden Designfest Bursts Into Bloom This
November
For immediate release: Wednesday 16
October 2013
Celebrating Auckland’s
extraordinary landscaping, design and artistic talent
First-time gardeners, the green-thumbed and
landscaping professionals alike are invited to take part in
the second biennial Auckland Garden DesignFest 2013, on
16-17 November across the Auckland region.
Twenty-five of
the city’s most spectacular residential gardens will be
open to the public—nearly all of them for the first
time—in a celebration of the incredible landscaping,
design and artistic talent Auckland has to offer. Visitors
have the opportunity to explore the grounds over two days,
speak with each garden’s designer onsite, and gain
inspiration for their own gardens coming into summer.
The
Festival’s Joint Chairperson, Rose Thodey says, “We’re
proud to have so many experienced designers taking part in
this year’s Festival. Thanks to them, and the generosity
of the gardens’ owners, we’re able to show the enormous
difference good garden design can make to a property.”
“All the Festival gardens are incredible, but they
follow simple principles that anyone can use in their own
backyard, if they know how to apply them. So it’s about
showing people how easy and worthwhile it can be to use
effective garden design techniques to make their outdoor
environments more enjoyable spaces to live in.”
Some of
the Festival’s highlights include: a Lake Pupuke garden by
up-and-coming designers Matt McIsaac and
Mat Ransom which featured in the 2009 film
Under the Mountain; one of New Zealand’s most
beloved designers, the internationally-recognised
Xanthe White presents two gardens—one a
Herne Bay property incorporating brick salvaged from the
2011 Christchurch earthquake, with a range of edible and
medicinal plantings, the other in Mt Eden, with flowery
natives and gorgeous lagoon effects; Damian
Wendelborn collaborates with artist Desna
Whaanga-Schollum on a large outdoor installation to
reinvigorate a tired Herne Bay property; Trudy
Crerar’s California-inspired garden next door
responds to the deco period of its landmark 1920s apartment
building; Robin Shafer’s whimsical
Balmoral garden is perfect for anyone with a romantic
sensibility, and her Sunnyhills property is a relaxing,
tropical-inspired oasis, and finally, for anyone seeking
ideas on creating small urban sanctuaries, don’t miss
Pascal Tibbits’ Parnell designs.
Unique to the Festival is the chance to explore gardens
where the professionals have combined forces. Stroll through
two properties in Freemans Bay where Trish
Bartleet has worked with old friends: fellow
designer Sally Gordon who describes her new
garden as being “all I dreamt of”, before wandering
across to her neighbour, award-winning architect Pip
Cheshire’s utterly desirably retreat.
Remuera is home to seven of the Festival’s
gardens, with sweeping, Italian-style properties such as
Ron Dkyman’s two gardens, extensive,
multi-purpose outdoor areas by Gary de
Beer, and Fiona Kelly and Barbara
Garrett, and an awe-inspiring, historic garden by
Sue and Colin McLean, with water features,
sculptures, a potager garden and beehive. For poolside
living, see Gudrun Fischer’s sleek
creation and Jan Hart’s family garden
which won Silver Awards in last year’s Landscaping New
Zealand Awards.
The Festival was inspired by
Melbourne’s renowned Rotary Garden DesignFest and is held
in alternate years with its Auckland counterpart so
gardening and design enthusiasts have the opportunity to go
to festivals in both cities. It is the brainchild of the
Garden Design Society of NZ and the Rotary Club of
Newmarket.
Tickets for the festival are now on sale online,
or available to pick up in person from Palmers Gardenworld
and Palmers Planet Stores throughout Auckland. Pre-purchased
tickets cost $50 for an all-garden, all-weekend pass, or $60
if bought on the day at any of the gardens. Single garden
tickets are also available for $5 each. Proceeds from all
tickets go towards children’s charities Ronald McDonald
House, KidsCan and Garden to Table.
For those looking to
see all the highlight gardens with the guidance of expert
guides, bus tours are offered and cater to a range of
interests, beginning and ending at historic Highwic in
Newmarket.
For more information, visit gardendesignfest.co.nz.
ENDS
Speak Your Mind