The camera-shy editor and founder behind Sage Journal.
I come from a line of gardeners, always able to call my mum or nana to chat about what to plant where, figure out why a plant is turning up its toes, or to see if there’s a cutting going spare. I know not everyone is this lucky.
When we bought our first house twelve years ago, I quickly realised what a struggle it was to find local garden inspiration and advice. I wanted relatable stories, aspirational projects, and connections with knowledgeable gardeners — both new and old.
So five years ago, I started Sage Journal. To share stories of hands-in-the-dirt, soil-on-the-clothes gardeners. People who are sometimes failing, often succeeding, and always asking questions.
My aim was to create Aotearoa’s most trusted gardening resource. Now, with a large local following, and growing engagement from Australia and beyond, we’ve not only become the home for gardeners, but for design lovers and nature-inspired creatives too.
This year (spring 2025) we are bringing Sage Journal to print.
It will be a publication where knowledge — especially the kind passed down through conversations in the garden — can be shared and preserved.
Sage Journal will continue these discussions with our ever-growing, like-minded community, and we want you to be part of them.
Paula Kelly, gardener at Pegasus Bay Winery, transforms its grounds with decades of horticultural passion and experience, creating stunningly beautiful gardens in North Canterbury.
For Jannine Rickards, gardening is more than just a hobby, it's a connection to her whakapapa—a practice steeped in tradition, sustainability and spirituality. As a winemaker and the founder of Huntress Wines, Jannine weaves her love for the land and her passion for kai (food) into every aspect of her life.
For Camilla Jørvad, the surrounding environment of her new home profoundly influences her, sparking a desire to transform the garden into a sanctuary of beauty and abundance.
Blossoming flowers dance in the gentle breeze, while lush greenery provides a sense of serenity. This garden, by Ashley James, is straight out of a fairytale book, where nature and imagination intertwine.
In the quaint settlement of Lauder, Central Otago, Gillian Swinton and her partner Hamish have cultivated a lifestyle that seamlessly blends their love for gardening, hospitality and rural living.
In the North Canterbury country town of Amberley reside quantity surveyor Keeley and chef Jen Pomeroy – two garden enthusiasts whose journey into gardening reflects a deep-rooted connection to family, food and community.
In the farming town of Seafield in the Ashburton District, Stevie Young’s garden stands as a testament to a dedication and passion for simple and sustainable living.
A comprehensive guide for gardeners when it comes to dealing with rats and mice in the garden (or inside!) — in partnership with Goodnature.
Rodents are part of the not-so-glamorous side of gardening and tending to the land. They love your edible harvests and compost bins — and, particularly in autumn, they're looking for shelter and food to stash for the colder months ahead.
It was a new pool and pool house that sparked a total landscape renovation for this hilltop Napier garden.
The couple wanted a property that not only suited the way they live and entertain but that complemented the enthralling view, which stretches from Māhia Peninsula across to Cape Kidnappers.
Te Whare Māra - The Garden House - blurs the lines between landscape and architecture. This Wellington garden exemplifies landscape design that boasts beauty, sustainability and meaningful spaces to inhabit and enjoy.
Then came the newly built accommodation studio. Set against the backdrop of Gisborne’s landscapes, Black House Studio goes beyond the conventional notion of accommodation. It effortlessly marries architectural elegance with the natural splendour that envelops it. Chelsea’s interview with us invites you to appreciate the thoughtfulness and creativity that converged to shape Black House ...
