New Zealand Garden Designs Hot Property Overseas

MEDIA RELEASE
29 April 2004

New Zealand Garden Designs Hot Property Overseas

Forget Lord of the Rings – it is New Zealand designed gardens that are fast becoming one of this country’s hottest exports.

New Zealand natives have become the latest buzz word in garden design as they take off on foreign soil and as the editor of New Zealand Gardener magazine, Sarah Beresford points out, our overseas counterparts simply can’t get enough of them.

“New Zealand natives have been popular at home for some time now due to their aesthetics and low-maintenance nature,” said Ms Beresford. “This trend has recently exploded onto the international gardening scene with New Zealand natives becoming a must-have for trendy Australian, US and UK garden designers and landscape architects.”

This trend in New Zealand towards emulating our natural habitat in the backyard has meant that these days it is not uncommon for designers to be hired to make things look as if they are naturally occurring.

The spotlight on New Zealand garden design shows no sign of waning as it is being actively promoted internationally, with the renowned Chelsea Flower Show in London this year featuring for the first time a New Zealand garden, designed by Kiwi Trish Waugh.

As well as native plants, New Zealanders are also welcoming adventurous design ideas that are less about flora and more about creating works of art, utilising things such as sculptures and rock formations, evidence of an increased confidence in landscape design.

“As a nation we are learning to embrace the idea of landscape design, currently enjoying its highest profile ever in New Zealand,” said Ms Beresford. “It is no longer just the rich and the famous who have their gardens designed as all gardeners become more design aware and realise that a well planned design can turn the average suburban, rural or urban section into something unique regardless of size.”

A special edition of New Zealand Gardener magazine, featuring 16 distinctive designers is on sale now. This special photographic edition features 98 advertising free pages of garden designs to inform, inspire and excite.

ENDS

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