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

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