Episode: New Zealand Ellerslie International Flower Show

Presenter: Melissa King

Gardens are a feast for the senses and nothing showcases that smorgasbord of delight quite like the Visique Garden. It is a true outdoor living experience, with four very distinct, but very inviting rooms and it is all the creation of Christchurch landscape designer, Ben McMasters.

One of the best things about the design concept is that whatever mood you are in, there is a space in the garden to capture it. Be it unwinding with drinks or entertaining friends on the floating deck, catching some rays in the sunken relaxation area, cosying up on the couch or even just soaking up the view there is no shortage of great plants and ideas.

It is a garden with terrific modern appeal and is filled with a top selection of really great performing plants and best of all they are all laid out with an astute eye for design. Spiky Aloe (Aloe barbarae) is one of those plants that commands attention with its striking architectural form. It also has a really good contrast against the dark coloured granite veneer and the under planting of black Mondo grass.

On the edge of the sunken relaxation area is Agave Geminiflora. While it is a little bit nasty if you get to close to it, it is a fantastic looking plant that looks great in big, sexy modern pots and containers and it will hold its own throughout the year.

For foliage contrast and form you just cant go past Astelia Silver Spear. The steely foliage provides the perfect foil to the majestic sculpture and the strappy leaves offset the more traditional rounded form of English box.

Shady areas are brought to life with the metallic green of Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla ?Jack Frost?) which lights up the garden, as well as mass displays of Alum Root or Coral Bells (Heuchera Hybrid Cultivar ?Green Spice?) which covers the ground in a tapestry of colour.

Melissa thinks that enjoyment of a garden somehow increases tenfold when you stimulate all the senses and what better way to relax than surrounding yourself with fragrant plants like gardenias, lavenders and a climbing Chinese star jasmine.

Art and gardens are such natural companions and nothing can bring a garden space to life quite like the sound of water. If you really want to make an individual statement, then choose a striking one off piece.

The Visique Garden is a collection of different garden rooms that can all be appreciated separately, day or night and in every season. While most displays at Ellerslie get torn down after the show and disappear forever, the Visique Garden is going to be recreated in the home of one lucky winner from this years show.

Visique
www.visique.co.nz

Designer
Ben Mc Masters
Inside Out Design
03 355 3120
027 2284 222