LIT TLE GEMS

After I’d wrested Secrets of Small Gardens in New Zealand off The Partner, it fell open at a quote from fashion designer Coco Chanel: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.”

Editing is equally important in a small garden, the text explained. A photo alongside clearly demonstrated that principle, showcasing just three plants in a strongly structural garden. It looked perfect.

I love small gardens, and there are 20 of them in this excellent book by Sue Allison and Juliet Nicholas, all of them inspirational. For example, after the Christchurch earthquakes wreaked havoc with their garden beds of white roses, Jenny and John Gillies uprooted them and planted a new garden of edibles. A brave decision and a gorgeous result.

In Auckland, the straggly backyard of a classic villa was transformed into a jungle tableau anchored by bangalow, banana and fan palms.

A bijou garden created by Barbara Bellis in Christchurch measures just half a dozen paces in any direction, but it could almost be in rural France. Barbara has imposed on her garden “the sense of effortless order that is at the heart of French landscape design”.

This 300-page hardback is full of interesting stories well told by writer Sue and excellently photographed by Juliet.

It’s a great book for lovers of garden design of all shapes and sizes.

Secrets of Small Gardens in New Zealand, New Holland Publishers, RRP $49.99