An interview with Secret Gardener, Sue of Texture Garden — a subtropical, suburban garden in Taradale, Hawke’s Bay.
Secret Gardens is a garden-share platform that enables you to visit a diverse and inspiring collection of New Zealand gardens, across the seasons — along with the opportunity to meet the passionate, knowledgeable gardeners behind them.
This autumn, we invited some of the insightful Secret Gardeners to share their thoughts and tips for this time of year in the garden.
In this interview, we speak with Sue, who has spent 30 years establishing her texture garden in Taradale, Hawkes Bay.
—
Meet the gardener — Sue | Texture Garden
Sue and her husband Hamish have lived in their home for thirty years and raised three children there. While the children were young, Sue worked at a plant nursery for seven years, spending her time propagating, giving customer advice, as well as building up her own knowledge… and her plant collection.
During this time, Sue started advising others on landscape design, helping to shape a number of gardens across Hawkes Bay. “It’s a great joy to help someone envisage their garden, give advice that suits them and their lifestyle and then see it come to life.”
Alongside gardening, Sue’s other passion is floral art. A long-time member and past president of the local Floral Art group, she has presented numerous demonstrations and workshops, and designed flowers for many events and weddings – including a wedding in Umbria, Italy, which took place in a 14th century villa.
In her floristry practice, Sue loves pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with foliage and natural products. She enjoys applying the floral art principles of balance, form, texture, colour and proportion in her garden, and in turn taking inspiration from her garden for her floral designs.
In 2020 Sue attended the World Floral Art conference in India “It just blew my mind! What an extraordinary country, so much colour everywhere. Beautiful people and vibrant flowers.”
What changes in your garden do you most look forward to as autumn sets in?
I do enjoy the plants slowing down for winter. It’s a great time for collecting any seed, for example: quaking grass (Briza media), Echinops (Globe thistle), Amaranthus.
And I love the autumnal colours, especially the maples. The sun setting lower in the sky, with some stunning sunsets. The sound of crickets doing their best to sing for a mate.
What’s your favourite autumn harvest?
Pruning the ornamental grapevine and using the canes for screening in the garden, as well as making wreaths.
What are the main tasks you tackle in autumn in your garden?
Raking up vast quantities of leaves – especially Ginkgo, Zelkova (Japanese elm), Cercis and Prunus. I fill the compost bins with them, layering with chopped twigs, branches and some grass clippings. This occurs over several weeks.
What’s your stand-out favourite thing about the autumn season?
Seeing the late afternoon sun shining through the glorious ornamental grapevine leaves.
Texture Garden is part of Secret Gardens.
To visit this garden, book a visit at: www.secretgardens.co.nz
