Great Dixter’s Fergus Garrett Set to Wow the Crowds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

27 April 2017

THE DYNAMIC PLANTSMAN – GREAT DIXTER’S FERGUS GARRETT SET TO WOW THE CROWDS AT THIS YEAR’S NELMAC GARDEN MARLBOROUGH

“Innovation, originality, verve, ebullience, abundance, joy, subversiveness, an infectious enthusiasm and a wild energy…”

Just some of the words applied to Fergus Garrett and his work as head gardener at Great Dixter, the world-famous Sussex garden first created by Christopher Lloyd.

Now Fergus Garrett is coming to New Zealand, appearing exclusively at Nelmac Garden Marlborough in November.

For renowned UK garden writer Anna Pavord, the “half Turkish, half-Irish, wholly original” Garrett has maintained all of the exuberance she always associated with the extraordinary garden at Dixter.

Fergus Garrett himself, who once said “the most important tools a gardener has are eyes”, says of his work at Great Dixter: “This is not a fluffy cottage garden. It’s a place we’ve always been expressive. I love the quirkiness of big plants and big veg, the sense of the countryside being let in…we make rules, we break them, we experiment all the time”.

Carolyn Ferraby, longstanding Garden Marlborough committee member who’s heard Fergus Garrett speak at international events on several occasions, says: “I’m delighted. Not only is Fergus one of the garden world’s foremost plantsmen, but his knowledge and passion are contagious, and he’s extremely entertaining. He’s unquestionably the strongest international guest speaker we’ve ever brought here.”

A visitor to another Fergus Garrett talk, influential garden blogger Frogend Dweller, described her fascination at seeing the hand-drawn diagrams Fergus uses to illustrate border maintenance plans and sowing schedules, and his samples of real plants in a photo demonstrating the importance of plant canopy in successional planning. “If you get a chance to hear Fergus Garrett speak, she adds, “grab it. You won’t regret it”.

This year New Zealand’s premier garden event runs from 9-12 November. Tickets to New Zealand’s premier garden event go on sale 30 June 2017. Visit www.gardenmarlborough.co.nz

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