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MEDIA RELEASE January 9th 2009
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A garden to challenge perceptions on planting
in drought-prone areas
Blenheim landscape designer Suzie LeCren will challenge public
perceptions about establishing a lush, green garden in New
Zealand’s drought-prone areas at this year’s Ellerslie
International Flower Show.
The first-time garden exhibitor and Ellerslie designer will
create Inner Sanctuary, a garden using a simple palette of
rich, textured natives, with a peppering of evergreen exotics
and annuals.
“Many people think they can not create a rich, lush
garden in a dry, arid environment. Inner Sanctuary will show
it is possible using predominantly natives which are the best
drought and wind resistant plants,” she says.
From a background in agricultural science, Suzie found herself,
post-motherhood, designing gardens and making outdoor lighting
sculptures, both design skills of which will be exhibited
at Ellerslie in March 2009.
Inner Sanctuary will have a spiral limestone chip path winding
into the centre of the garden to a white-painted platform
on which will sit a classic French-designed slipper bath,
the whole structure rimmed with “precious annuals”
to create a tranquil haven.
The path is flanked with natives and lit by orange-glowing
copper orbs which rise from ground level, climbing into the
centre of the design. Centre stage, hanging above the bath,
will be a large stainless steel cylindrical lampshade with
Pacific-inspired copper cut-outs.
Suzie says the garden will be a real sanctuary, a place where
you can escape from day-to-day pressures and any prevailing
hot nor-west winds or screaming gales to relax.
Inspiration for Inner Sanctuary came from her own garden.
“I have a bath in my garden; it’s a place I can
go, sink in to the bath and feel like I am a million miles
away from anywhere.”
Working predominantly in the drought-prone East Coast areas
of Blenheim and Kaikoura, Suzie says many people do not realise
that even in this harsh environment they can have a lush,
green garden.
“It is about using native evergreen plants which thrive
in this type of environment and within the space, allowing
for pockets to plant precious annuals.”
She says she is enjoying the challenge of creating an exhibition
garden and will come to Christchurch in late January to do
a practice run of her 10m x 10m design at Christchurch’s
Wholesale Plant Market which is sponsoring her garden.
“This way I can get to create the garden and play around
with its design to ensure it is perfect for Ellerslie. It
will be a bit like painting, creating the structure and playing
with the colour and texture of the plants to ensure it is
a masterpiece.”
www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz
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Christchurch
City Council
http://www.ccc.govt.nz
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