A ‘Jill of all trades,’ I originally trained as an archaeologist, turned to communications, became a programme director and event organiser, a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture student, a heritage landscape planner with a Masters in landscape and civic planning, a local government adviser, garden tour organiser and presenter, and most of all a perpetual gardener.  Because I came to formal garden design and landscape studies late in life, I have mainly designed gardens for myself and friends.

Key projects have been 3 significant gardens made for myself and family – a 50-year-old mainly deciduous garden in northern Coromandel, this 40-year-old subtropical garden in Ponsonby and a currently co-existing 20-year-old nearly native garden, blending into bush in eastern Coromandel. 

My plant palette originally came out of enchantment with the deciduous woodland garden of my childhood but steadily evolved into appreciating more and more, the majesty of our forest trees, our subtle native palette of multiple greens and browns, and the marvellous intricate diversity of all our indigenous plants.

The aim of this garden was to create an abundant soft sanctuary, block out the school buildings next door and two ugly 1980s towers to the north, but leave enough lawn for my children. I started planting using what was current in the mid-80s, building up from a bare kikuyu-ridden patch, an old tecoma hedge, scrappy bougainvillea and an unloved pink camellia. The last 25 years have seen my original and newer trees mature and the planting palette evolve into the creation of a fully subtropical and intense mini forest.  It has developed its own ecology and brings insects and birds in increasing numbers, as well as a great deal of pleasure.