Fragrant lavender is easy to care for, as long as you avoid a few common mistakes.

As the days become warmer take the time to prepare your garden beds if you want to ensure a bumper growing season. Here are the top tasks to add to your September gardening list Your September gardening to-do list The weather mightn’t be markedly different, nor does the garden suddenly spring into life, but there […]

Spring is knocking on winter’s door so it’s time to do a bit of soil prep, pruning and veggie planting in anticipation of the warmer months Chores to consider for August gardening The last month of winter is often the most brutal but it is also when the new season is tantalisingly within our sights. […]

Ensure your home always smells fresh and clean There’s something deeply comforting about stepping into a home that smells wonderful. Just like the way you carefully choose to style your home, the way your home smells can also be a means to communicate your own personal style and evoke powerful emotion. A fresh, inviting aroma […]

It’s time to plant new fruit trees, pop in some leafy green seedlings and plan spring crops Chores for your early winter gardening Winter has come. Activity in the garden is slowing. In cooler parts of the country, growth has all but stopped. With the plants needing less attention, more time can be paid to […]

No money? No worries. Try these 10 hot tips for refreshing your home for zero dollars Photographer: Will Horner Everyone deserves a beautiful home, no matter what their budget is, but sometimes there’s simply not a cent to spare. Put your wallet back in your pocket and rejoice. We’ve got 10 totally doable tips for […]

In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of rainbows and like its romantic namesake, these tall, elegant blooms come in a multitude of colours I would like to say that all irises are beautiful, but they are not. Given the genus contains up to 300 species, that is hardly surprising. Despite often being called the […]

Whether it’s dripping with orchids, peppered with hydrangeas, completely adorned with sunny-coloured flowers or decorated with the dried variety, these five floral Christmas trees are blooming with inspiration  We are so lucky to enjoy beautiful summer flowers at Christmas time. Jess Britten’s floral Christmas tree uses hydrangea, cosmos, dahlias, scabious, achillea, delphinium and cow parsley […]

Looking for a way to earn yourself some culinary cred? Here’s how to make every dish you serve look blooming delicious Edible flowers can bring a lovely sense of colour to baked goods, frozen treats or most things really. Imagine a crisp garden salad coloured with bright nasturtiums and a tangy vinaigrette. Or a lemony, […]

Flora fanatic Dylan Norfield has transformed a gorse-covered Blueskin Bay site into a wonderland of rare and interesting plants Like many gardeners, Dylan Norfield has an addiction – an addiction to plants, that is. It’s hardly surprising, considering his parents ran a nursery and his job is managing the plant collections at Dunedin Botanic Garden. […]

Take your cue from Mother Nature this Christmas and incorporate a palette of bright blooms into your festive decor New Zealander’s are lucky enough to have a summer Christmas. Therefore instead of wintry snow-capped trees, pine cones and holly, we get to make the most of summery, bright blooms for our Christmas decor. Here’s how:  […]

Joy, sorrow, love, nostalgia and gratitude, this New Zealand Flowers Week five florists show us how to create beautiful arrangements for every emotion During a fragrant celebration of blooms, five of the nation’s best florists were tasked to create a bespoke floral arrangement inspired by emotion for New Zealand Flowers Week. Joy, sorrow, nostalgia, love […]

Florals for spring? Not groundbreaking, but always well received. Shop our favourite floral looks below Florals for spring is nothing new, but this seasonal trend gets recycled for a reason. Whether it’s large botanicals or tiny delicate flowers, we can’t help but indulge in some pretty blooms to welcome the new season (and hopefully the […]

We see inside florist Mikarla Bauer’s gorgeous studio and discover some of her best florists hacks including the floral look that’s flying out the door Based in Bangalow, New South Wales, Mikarla’s double-garage workshop overflows with flowers and foliage for events and weddings. “I love every aspect of my job,” she says. “My favourite thing […]

Florals don’t just belong in a vase – use blooming bedlinen, curtains, rugs and even furniture to add colour, pattern and beauty to your spaces If you love the colours and patterns found in nature and want your interior to bloom beautifully year-round, introducing floral patterns to your home is an easy decision. The only […]

A lovely gift idea is a bunch of beautiful blooms. Here’s how to make sure your flower arrangement stays fresh  1. Remove foliage Always remove all leaves and foliage below the water level of the vase your flowers will live in, says Rebecca Jones from Feel Good With Flowers. By leaving a clean stem it […]

No two days are the same for floral artist Antonia de Vere, who, with her husband, comprise the creative duo Mark Antonia Antonia de Vere is the quirky, colourful half of floristry and design business Mark Antonia, alongside “multi-dimensional” husband Mark Seeney. We chat to the creative floral artist about her “chameleon-like” style, why she […]

A Christmas tree needn’t always be dressed in baubles and tinsel. Find out how to recreate this abundantly floral Christmas tree at your place Here’s how to create a stunning floral Christmas tree As a talented florist and owner of beautiful Parnell store Blush Flowers, Kelly Karam certainly knows a thing or two about floral styling. She […]

Protea lovers rejoice! These sculptural flowers are fast becoming this season’s must-have floral motif. From prints and stems to cups and cushions, here’s what to shop Protea inspired homeware is on trend and we can’t get enough of it Step aside peony! It’s the protea’s turn to shine as this season’s signature floral motif. Originating […]

Some overzealous tenants meant this green-fingered couple had to start their cottage garden from scratch, but the result is bloomin’ beautiful  Here’s how a florist and a builder created a blooming cottage garden  Creating a cottage garden to suit their old Tauranga homestead involved no brain strain at all for Meg and Brian Claxton. Meg […]

Got a fresh bunch of blooms? These flower arranging tips will help to make your blooms last longer and look better Flower arranging tips you need to know to keep your blooms fresh Best flowers to choose A great flower arrangement starts with the right choice of blooms, more specifically, how fresh those flowers are. […]

From roses to shrubs and trees, our handy guide will help you to primp and prune your garden like a green-thumbed expert Your July gardening checklist with bonus pruning tips + Gardens are just as much about editing as planting – a shrub may grow wider than you planned or a tree might block out […]

With its delicate flowers and vibrant colour, sedum are perfect for adding a visual burst of warmth into your home during the cooler months Sedum blossoms: the fluffy flowers that will add warm texture to your home A stalwart of perennial borders and meadows around the world, Sedum spectabile (reclassified as Hylotelephium spectabile) produces eye-catching […]

Synonymous with New Zealand summer, hydrangeas are an easy way to make a fun, floral statement. Here’s how to care for these beautiful blooms Hydrangeas: Everything you need to know about these bouncy blooms The blooming of big, blowsy hydrangeas is one of summer’s true pleasures. Most hydrangeas grown in New Zealand are varieties of […]

Keen to celebrate spring with some special-occasion styling? A florist and a stylist team up to create three colourful looks inspired by seasonal flowers Style 1 This luxurious statement seating area is inspired by the lush array of pink flowers on offer right now. Tips + Brass is a key player here; it warms the […]

Your Home & Garden Style Director Catherine Wilkinson went along to The Botanist try her hand at their floristry workshop. She runs us through the inspiring experience How to create the perfect bouquet at The Botanist’s floristry workshop Working with Eden Kersten from The Botanist on many shoots, I’ve already picked up loads of information […]

We’re celebrating spring by filling a vase or two with our flower of the month – the delicate Anemone. Here are some quick tips for care and styling Anemone: Everything you need to know about these trendy flowers Dark and velvety anemones are beautifully textural flowers. Their straight stems are quite weak, so arrange them […]

Auckland’s Orakei Bay Village is the latest hotspot to visit for beautiful homeware, speciality flowers and delicious food Why you need to visit Orakei Bay Village if you love interiors A vacant waterfront warehouse and former gin distillery has been transformed into Auckland’s newest retail and hospo hub. Alongside Kings Plant Barn and specialty grocery […]

Flowers offer a special way to send a message to a loved one, whether it’s to say ‘congratulations’ or ‘I love you’. But which to send on what occasion? Superstar florist Eden Hessell, aka The Botanist, shares her tips for sending the most appropriate flowers for every occasion What type, what colour, what size flowers […]

Bursting with bright pink blooms and standing at a whopping 7.6m, a giant rhododendron bush is bringing a buzz to Canadian town Ladysmith 100-year-old rhododendron bush brings fame to small Canadian town A small Canadian town hopes to capitalise on a local homeowner’s 7.6 metre rhododendron bush, after this picture went viral online. Sitting in the […]

Greening the walls and adding a soft screen of slender trees will transform a nondescript corner into a delightful paved courtyard A problem courtyard gets a stylish and fragrant garden plan Dear Carol, We have a problem area which we are keen to see turned into a stylish courtyard. The site faces east and only […]

Gladioli are a bulb flower and their distinctive height, plus the variety of vibrant colours available, makes them perfect for use in floral arrangements All about March’s flower of the month: Gladioli Fill a tall vase at least half way to the top with water. Position the gladioli in the vase, with shorter flowers or […]

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s with a special someone or rounding up the ladies for a Galentine’s get-together this collection of dreamy décor is sure to inspire 43 dreamy looks to inspire your Valentine’s Day decor From all out girly-glitz to a muted monochrome look, we’ve got your Valentine’s style sorted with this collection of inspiring […]

Dahlias are the national flower of Mexico and come in an array of vibrant colours. Discover how you can grow and enjoy these beautiful flowers at home All about February’s flower of the month: Dahlias For this arrangement, we have used different types, including cactus, waterlily and dinner plate dahlias. This is a simple but […]

Known for their extravagant beauty, peonies are the favourite flower of many. Learn key care tips and check out the Your Home and Garden peony photo shoot Everything you need to know about peonies The extravagant beauty of peonies has enchanted gardeners all around the world for centuries since its cultivation in China as early […]

Holidays and the hot sun are a deadly mix for your garden in January. Use this handy checklist to help keep your plants happy and healthy this summer  Your January checklist to help your garden through the hot summer months It’s holiday time for many people but plants have to work harder in midsummer as it’s their peak […]

Take a closer look at this beautiful floral crown. Perfect for party attire, weddings or a festival, a floral crown is pretty and whimsical. Styling by: florist Eden Hessell. Photos by: Bauer Media Group Studio. [related_articles post1=”40473″ post2=”35615″]

We’re obsessed with interiors around here, but flowers are also top of our inspiration hit-list. Here are 10 floral-based Instagram accounts you need to know about Your pretty cute! #thebotanistnz A photo posted by The Botanist Floral Stylist (@thebotanistnz) on Aug 2, 2016 at 1:53pm PDT #1 The Botanist Who: @thebotanistnz Why we love it: […]

Gardening guru Carol Bucknell dishes the dirt on the best flowers for attracting beneficial bees to the garden in New Zealand Why we need bees in the garden Without honeybees both our productive and ornamental gardens would suffer enormously, not to mention commercial horticulture and farming. Bee numbers are declining throughout the world and home […]

In this instalment of Floral Fridays, Eden shows us how to arrange a bouquet of pretty pink blooms and foliage, ideal for displaying in a vase or gifting to a loved one. Top bouquet-arranging tips from Eden: When creating the bouquet, start with foliage first, spiralling the stems from the centre Ensure there isn’t any foliage […]

October is the ideal time to re-pot all your container plants, feed your orchids and prepare your spring blooms to look their best. Here’s a round-up of things to tick off your spring to-do list Your October gardening to-do list Prepare your spring blooms  Daffodils and other spring bulbs brighten up the garden at this time […]

Blooms you might not have heard of and arrangements you might not have thought of – here are five fresh floral ideas to get you inspired [related_articles post1=”41626″ post2=”37225″]

If you’re after a dramatic centrepiece for your next party, this impressive arrangement is just the thing! Florist Eden Hessell demonstrates how to create this showstopping arrangement… You will need Puriri branches (but anything lush will do, such as magnolia) King protea Cycad leaves Monstera leaves Tall vase [quote title=”This would make the perfect” green=”true” text=”statement […]

This roomy section with bare fencing and only a couple of trees is crying out for an overall plan. Carol comes to the rescue, introducing softness, colour and coherence Dear Carol, My home in Invercargill is a fairly plain 1940s stucco box, which we’ve given a slight lift with a path to the front gate […]

Superstar florist Eden Hessell, aka The Botanist shows you just how good green can be with this lush arrangement.  This gorgeous, long-lasting alternative to flowers is perfect for parties, weddings – and of course, your home You will need  Wire hanging basket, spray painted matte white Florist oasis (floral foam) A water tight container Floral […]

Everyone has a jam jar or two lying around and it turns out these glass vessels make the ideal vase. Watch floral superstar Eden Hessel create a jam jar arrangement starring anemones! How to make a jam jar floral arrangement You will need: – A jam jar – Eucalyptus to bulk out the arrangement – Anemones […]

Homes to Love quizzed florist Eden Hessel who specialises in weddings to find out what her favourite wedding flowers are, and when they’re in season When are my favourite wedding flowers in season? How do good florists always know how to get the best blooms for the best prices? Because they know when flowers are in their […]

With ball season in sight, we’ve created this fun how-to with floral superstar Eden Hessel to help you create your own floral corsage A corsage is a mini arrangement of floral blooms, worn on the wrist for special occasions such as school balls. For this fresh white corsage you will need: -Ranunculus -Ivy -Asparagus fern […]

Struggling with what to get Mum for Mother’s Day? Why not make her a bouquet of blooms, wrapped up with love and personalised with her favourite flowers Bouquet 1: classic white roses Bouquet 2: a pretty posy Bouquet 3: layers of pink [related_articles post1=”40396″ post2=”36599″]

 Wrap up your flowers in style with this sweet how-to video by Eden Hessell, aka The Botanist, for the prettiest posy in town You will need Cineraria Twingo Anthurium Fiesta roses Solidago (Goldenrod) Queen Anne’s Lace How to create a pretty posy Start with cineraria, add Solidago, then Fiesta roses, spiraling as you go. Next incorporate […]

We have channeled a Dutch still-life painting for this arrangement, which is both autumnal and beautiful. Here’s how to create this seasonal arrangement, complete with a list of florals    Watch our how-to video How to get the look You will need: -Dahlias -Gerberas -Eucalyptus -Hanging amaranthus -Viburnum -Scabiosa -A round pottery-style vase -Scissors -Water Instructions: […]

Consider this your Autumn planting guide! Here’s what to harvest, plant and sow in the garden during the month of April What to harvest in the garden in Autumn – Pick up passionfruit as it drops to avoid sun damage and rotting. – Harvest eggplant, capsicum, corn, cucumber, courgette, tomato and other late-summer vegetables. Make […]

Superstar florist Eden Hessell, aka The Botanist, demonstrates how to arrange flowers en masse in a tall vase. She makes it look easy! How to get the look You will need: 4 x stems hydrangea greenery 2 x king protea 5 x hydrangea 6 x birch stems 4 x Japanese anemone 4 x Monstera leaf […]

A plain little garden on Waiheke has been transformed into a place of enchantment with a range of subtropical plants THE SITE Stuart Jobling and his partner Barry Danby have created a delightful, densely planted subtropical garden on Waiheke Island. With its canopy of palms, flowering trees and lush-leaved subtropicals below, the exotic garden is a far […]

Superstar florist Eden Hessell, aka The Botanist, demonstrates how to arrange flowers in a medium vase. She makes it look easy! You will need -A medium vase -Water -Scissors or secateurs -Viburnum -Hydrangeas -Roses -Dahlias -Eucalyptus How to arrange flowers in a medium vase Start with the viburnum to create the base for the rest […]

This garden is so abundant and established it looks as though it’s been the life-long companion to the Victorian-era weatherboard home it surrounds Despite looking like it’s always been there, this garden is a recent development, installed in tandem with the home’s renovation two years ago. The Cheongs retained the Victorian facade and added a contemporary extension at the […]

When arranging flowers, using a small vase (or even a jam jar or water glass) is the way to go. The key is to create loose, interesting arrangements that have depth and height. Watch how florist Eden Hessell arranges flowers in a short vase with a relaxed Country-style  You will need 5 campanella roses 6 […]

Beat the late summer blues by rejuvenating flower beds and lawns with a little loving care Your March planting guide Gardens can look a little jaded by the end of summer but an easy way to add colour and interest is to fill containers and gaps in flower beds with brightly-hued annuals and perennials that bloom […]

Homes to Love caught up with florist Eden Kersten, aka The Botanist, to find out her top tips for hydrangeas. Browse our gallery of hot hydrangea ideas while you’re at it! Q&A with Eden Kersten, aka The Botanist Eden, when are hydrangeas in season/available? You will find them from December through to March. What colours are they available […]

This bouquet of white roses wrapped in yesterday’s paper makes for a simple statement of love that’s easy on the wallet You will need An affordable bunch of roses or other flowers such as daisies or carnations A newspaper – opt for pages with print rather than pictures. You could also go the extra mile […]

These pretty hanging bottles are so simple to make and would be perfect for an alfresco lunch, party or wedding You will need: An assortment of bottles or jars Twine Any floral stems you have to hand (we used dahlias and white roses). Instructions: Fill bottles with a small amount of water Add flowers and hang […]

Nothing says summer like a beautiful floral crown. Perfect for party attire, weddings or a festival, a floral crown is pretty and whimsical. Superstar florist Eden Hessell shows us how to make one You will need Floral wire Floral tape Wire cutters Greenery such as ruscus Milano and ivy Flowers of your choice How to […]

This week Homes to Love caught up with award-winning florist Eden Hessell, aka The Botanist, to find out her top tips for dahlias When are dahlias in season/available? January through to March. It depends on climate and availability. What colours are they available in? You name it, dahlias come in that colour. There are so many vibrant shades […]

Recreate this floral table arrangement with these step-by-step instructions 1. You will need: Scissors, knife, oasis, cardboard tubes wrapped in paper, red decorations, tin cans 2. Cover cardboard tubes and/or tin cans with festive Christmas paper. 3. Cut rounds of oasis to fit inside the cardboard tubes, covering the bottom with plastic to stop water escaping. […]

Homes to Love caught up with florist Eden Kersten, aka The Botanist, to find out how to make a fresh green wreath What greenery have you used for this wreath? I’ve used Holly, eucalyptus, protea leaves, moss, scabiosa, and poppy heads. What equipment do I need? – Oasis (wet floral foam) wreath – Greenery and flowers […]

Follow these step-by-step instructions for this achievable white and silver arrangement                  1. You will need Scissors, knife, oasis, cardboard tubes wrapped in paper, candles, votive and votive candles, silver decorations 2. Cover cardboard tubes in paper of your choice. 3. Cut circles of oasis and cover with […]

Homes to Love caught up with florist Eden Kersten, aka The Botanist, to find out her top 5 pointers for pretty-as-a-picture peonies When is peony season? You’ll find peonies from November to early January. When buying peonies at a florist, what should we be looking for? Should they be closed or open? They should be in bud but […]

Looking for a Christmas wreath? Browse this gallery of floral wreaths made from a mix of native and exotic flora with added festive bling in the form of baubles, deer and stars Photography by: Bridget Webber Wreaths created by: students from Manukau Institute of Technology Floral School Flowers and fauna from: Flowers Work Wonders