Q&A

A GARDENING TIP TO SHARE: You don’t need to get too hung up about having a particular style. I love so many things so don’t follow too many rules. You can get away with this if your garden doesn’t include too many colours – limiting colour avoids chaos.

FAVOURITE PLANTS: After forest pansies, the very green Philodendron ‘Xanadu’, with its textured, jagged-edged leaves, is my next favourite. I like the fact it is structural, dense and doesn’t require much upkeep.

PETER’S GARDEN ENDEAVOURS: He has an incredibly prolific vege garden and a little glasshouse where he grows some plants from seeds. He also tackles things like hard landscaping, the lawns and spreading compost and bark.

I LIKE TO RELAX: In the pool area between the showroom and the house – it’s an “I’m not working and I’m not at home” zone where we feel we’ve gone to a resort.

A RECENT DELIGHT: The addition of the moss green velvet fabric covering the outdoor couch cushions.

NEXT WE WILL: Possibly remove the line of camellias on the road frontage. They’re likely to be replaced by a fence and maples. The sweeps of blue agapanthus in that area may also be farewelled.

IS YOUR GARDEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Yes, during the Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival each November.