Blue House | Discover Tranquil Gardens — Hurunui Garden Festival

Wander, explore, relax...

Hosts: Jenny Cooper & Chris Raateland

Address: 35 Willowside Place, Amberley

This is a garden where strong design and a plantswoman’s passion go hand in hand. Our wide grass paths take you from intimate and cool shade gardens to sweeps of tussocks and prairie flowers. Wander through our Mediterranean inspired gravel gardens and generous sunny borders filled with unusual and difficult to source perennials. There is a vineyard and charming and productive vegetable garden. Tiny paths meander through arched hedges and down to the creek.

We provide a map and information about our garden philosophy, honed in the difficult North Canterbury climate. This includes no-dig, bare rooting, limited feeding and encouragement of mycorrhizal fungi.

Come and enjoy complimentary tea or coffee, with baking to purchase, in our sheltered outdoor seating area. For more information and photos, visit www.bluehouseamberley.nz

EVENTS

Free tea and coffee, all day, with baking to purchase. Plus we will be selling Fruize Pops, real-fruit gourmet ice blocks.

Jenny will be giving three focused walking tours of the garden with Q & A, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10 am. Note: no talk on the Thursday of the festival.

She will demonstrate how to plant and care for summer dry gardens which require little additional irrigation, but which are vibrant, flower filled and beautiful. This is a free session, no booking required.

More details on our website www.bluehouseamberley.nz

PLANTS FOR SALE:

The team at CJ’s nursery will have plants for sale, many of which are featured in this garden. This will include some hardy drought loving perennials and other hard to source delights.

Visit CJ’s Plant Farm to see their great selection of plants at reasonable prices.

Bloom Metal Garden Decor and Plant Supports:

Blue House is thrilled to be hosting the Bloom Metal range of handcrafted garden décor and plant supports — designed to support your plants while becoming a feature in the garden themselves.

Each piece is handcrafted right here in North Canterbury from solid steel, creating strong and sturdy supports that will age beautifully amongst your plants.

Perfect for roses, peonies, dahlias, climbing plants, vegetables and sprawling perennials.

Beautiful enough to leave in the garden all year round.

Bloom Metal will be available all festival.

Twisted Topiary: we will have a fabulous range of topiary bay and olive trees for sale as well.

Facilities: