Flourish

by Juliet Nicholas, Barb Rogers

This book celebrates the endeavours and achievements of women gardeners who are responsible for some of the most-admired gardens within New Zealand. Often starting as a home-based hobby, fitting around child care and other domestic tasks, the gardens developed by the women featured in this book have evolved into living works of art.

Scattered from the far north to Stewart Island, these gardens have a few things in common. Each one has been developed by a woman responding to her own landscape and locale with energy and verve. Often an outlet for a creative urge, the gardens portray a wide cross-section of styles. The stories of the gardeners also share common bonds – hard work and a passion for the landscape – but also stories of combating isolation, loss and joining a sisterhood of gardeners.

Some gardens are well known and justly celebrated both here and overseas: Bev McConnell’s Ayrlies in Auckland, and Margaret Barker’s garden at Larnach Castle in Dunedin. Others are undiscovered gardens worthy of wider attention. Gracious country rose gardens, inner city courtyards and edible gardens all feature.

285 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Juliet Nicholas was given a camera by her parents at the age of seven, sparking a lifelong fascination with photography. Over the past 30 years her photography has featured regularly in New Zealand's leading lifestyle magazines and she has worked on several books, including The Quake Year by Fiona Farrell. Living and working in Christchurch, Juliet has had first-hand experience of the recent earthquakes, and has felt compelled to record their impact on her city since the first one struck in September 2010.

When she is not working, Juliet can be found tending her garden or escaping to the wilderness of Stewart Island, where she delights in tramping, fishing and enjoying the bounty of the great outdoors.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Christmas present from my son. This book explores how a diverse group of women have created gardens all over New Zealand. Each chapter is supported with beautiful photos. As well the text follows the beginnings of each garden and how they were planned and then constructed and then how they have evolved and maintained. They range from backyards of small sections to acres of former farmland. What they have in common is a love of plants and a desire to leave the land better than they found it.
Some of them do have quite a lot of help to do a lot of the hard physical work. However an overview of some spectacular gardens and amazing women.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some truly inspiring gardens in this book. I have saved a couple of images which have me revising plans for a garden here.