Willows Green

31/08/2026

🌸 Hello Spring! 🌸

It’s officially the first day of spring, so over the last few days I’ve been collecting a few photos of what’s flowering around the garden ready to welcome the new season.

The magnolias and michelias are opening, the camellias are still putting on a beautiful show, hellebores are everywhere, the first rhododendron is flowering and, of course, there are daffodils bringing their lovely splash of yellow.

There’s still plenty of winter showing in the garden — bare trees, freshly pruned hydrangeas and lots of plants yet to wake up — but everywhere you look there are little signs that spring has arrived.

Happy first day of spring! 🌷🌿

30/08/2026

Monday morning tulips 🌷

I’ve been watching this pot change almost daily as the tulips have slowly opened.

From tightly wrapped buds to big, blowsy flowers, they seem to look completely different every time I walk past them. And after a little rain, the droplets caught on those ruffled petals were far too pretty not to photograph.

A lovely splash of colour as we head towards spring. 🌷🌿

28/08/2026

🌸 A little bit of floral magic…

Check out this fabulous photography from my very talented cousin, Laura.

Laura’s work just keeps growing and evolving, and I think there’s something almost magical about these beautiful floral images.

And what makes them even more special? Laura grows the flowers herself, then photographs them — so there’s a whole lot of talent involved before the finished artwork even reaches the wall!

She’s also a finalist in this art award, which is pretty exciting. 💕

You can view — and purchase — Laura’s beautiful work on her website here https://www.puhoifarmhouse.com/ Laura Tait Photography - Puhoi Farmhouse

Unbelievable, such exciting news, Blackberries and Pears has been chosen as one of the 25 MPB Photography Award Finalists, in the international 2026 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize.
Thank you to a lovely friend that encouraged me to be brave and enter so to make the top 25 I already feel like I have won.

Thank you to MPB the major sponsor of this event, so grateful to be included in this.

Thank you to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine for the tireless work in supporting the arts and the artists.

Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize celebrates and inspires creatives from all around the world to pursue a life and career in the arts and help careers grow through exposure to galleries, collectors and media globally.

Life changing and feeling very humbled and grateful.
Husband is bringing home a bottle of bubbles to celebrate tonight!!

The winners will announced in a few weeks time.

26/08/2026

Hydrangeas are looking rather bare in the garden at the moment after their winter prune… but this is what we have to look forward to in a few months' time. 💕🌿

Last summer, a little path-clearing by Dave resulted in a kitchen sink overflowing with hydrangeas — and eventually three or four vases full around the house.

One of the lovely perks of having far too many hydrangeas in the garden! 😂

25/08/2026

“Same path. Same garden. Eight years apart. 🌹❤️”

18/08/2026

🔨 Dave's Finally Getting His Own Shed... Apparently!

Poor Dave really doesn't have much space to call his own around here.

We have a double garage... but that's where I park the car. Then there's the freezer, the dryer, work storage, All the bits and pieces i've collected for when we cater morning and afternoon teas ... and somewhere in the corner, a tiny space for Dave's fishing gear.

Then there's the garden shed... although that also houses the water pump and filters, along with all the garden equipment.

Last year Dave built another shed behind the garage. It was supposed to be his shed...

Then somehow my Christmas tree moved in. 🎄

And because it's conveniently located near my potting table and my vege garden, naturally I needed somewhere to keep all my garden bits and pieces too.

So... poor Dave is building another shed.

With its steep wee gable, this one will tie in beautifully with the summer house and pergola at the front of the property, so even though it's very definitely a man's shed, it should still look right at home in the garden.

This one is officially going to be Dave's Shed — a proper man's shed with a workbench, tools, projects and all those mysterious things that seem to accumulate in sheds.

And just to make absolutely sure I understand the rules, I've even made him a sign...

"DAVE'S SHED — KIRSTY, BUGGAR OFF!!!!" 😂

I think he's trying to tell me something. 😇

Although... I'm still not making any promises!

I'll keep you posted on whether Dave actually manages to keep this one for himself. 😂

13/08/2026

🌿 We’re Back for Garden Marlborough 2026! 🌿

We're delighted to be opening Willows Green for Garden Marlborough again this year, and you'll find us on the Ultimate Escapes Tour – 5, 6 & 7 November.

If you'd love to spend some time exploring our garden along with the other fabulous Marlborough gardens on this tour, now is a great time to get those tickets booked.

And if you've visited Willows Green before, don't think you've seen it all!

Dave has been particularly busy this year, and we have lots of new features and areas that haven't been seen on previous tours, so there's plenty of reason to come back and visit us again.

By November the garden will be bursting into spring colour, and we can't wait to open the gates and welcome everyone in.

🌸 We'd love to see you at Willows Green this November. 🌸

09/08/2026

🌿 Dave – the Superstar of Pruning! ✂️🌹

The winter prune is such an important part of garden life. It might not be the prettiest job, but all that cutting back makes way for the beautiful new growth and blooms that follow in spring and summer.

Dave sets his pruning clock for 1 July each year — and from there, the work begins!

This winter he has worked his way through over 200 roses and more than 350 hydrangeas. 😳

He gained an extra day with Matariki, and a couple of Fridays home from work by smoko gave him a few bonus hours... and yesterday, he finally got there.

One of the best purchases he made has definitely been his battery secateurs. I can hear them going all day😀

It's a huge job every winter and one that mostly happens behind the scenes, long before the garden bursts back into life.

So here's a little appreciation for our resident pruning superstar. ❤️

Bring on the spring blooms🌷🌹

08/08/2026

When you are patiently digging roots of something that has got invasive out of the garden, an old dog bed is the perfect solution. Old garden stool too high, dog bed super comfortable. Note to self: easier to get down than up😀😀

05/08/2026

I'm back in the garden... and back to keeping an eye on what Dave's up to! 🌿

I celebrated reaching three months post knee replacement with a trip up the Wither Hills yesterday, but last weekend I was finally able to get stuck back into the garden.

I managed to use a spade, rake and hoe to tidy up my new pickables area while Dave was hard at work pruning hydrangeas. It felt so good to be back doing the things I enjoy after a few months on the sidelines.

I'm sure Dave will be pleased to have a bit of help again...
..or will he? 🤔

I'll be keeping a close eye on him to make sure no more lawn mysteriously disappears and turns into garden! 🌸😂