Q&A

FAVOURITE NEW PLANT: At the risk of sounding like a nerdy plant nut, I’m very excited about my new Bupleurum fruticosum, Hakonechloa macra, Echium candicans, Euphorbia mellifera and Aloe arborescens, all great plants for a dry garden. If anyone can source a Euphorbia rigida, let me know! (Jenny)

MOST-USED TOOLS: My T-spoon (a tiny spade) and, sadly, my kneeling pad with handles to help me get up and down. (Jenny)

BIGGEST GARDENING MISTAKE : We don’t call them mistakes because we learn heaps from them but, in hindsight, we would have planted more drought-tolerant trees. (Jenny)

DO YOU HAVE HELP IN THE GARDEN: No, but I’m so lucky to have Chris and his van full of tools. (Jenny)

And I’m lucky to have a son-in-law who is a chiropractor. (Chris)

HOURS SPENT IN THE GARDEN: Far too many. Maybe two hours per day before settling in my studio to work, plus many weekends. (Jenny)

SOIL TYPE: Sandy loam with occasional clay seams over a well-drained base. (Chris)

DO YOU PROPAGATE YOUR OWN PLANTS: Yes, most of them. I’m also a terrible plant scrounger and come home from every holiday with little bundles of wilted cuttings rolled up in newspaper. (Jenny)

WE LOVE THIS PART OF NEW ZEALAND BECAUSE: Of its bright warm climate and small, friendly community where you know almost everyone. (Chris)