Q&A with Prue MacDougall

HELP IN THE GARDEN: Paula Drummond of Mint Gardens in Devonport comes a couple of times a year. The three of us work really hard for about three hours and it’s all done.

A SPECIAL PLANT: The hoya that was my mother’s and grows up the pergola. Jim didn’t think it would be any good there. Whenever we can’t agree we ask Paula – she’s our garden counsellor – and she said it would do well there.

MOST-USED GARDEN TOOLS: A butter knife for weeding. Secateurs and a pair of florist’s scissors for deadheading the flowers.

WATERING: We have an irrigation system in part of the garden and I hand-water all the pots every day or two. With Auckland’s history of droughts we’re thinking of getting a bladder under the deck to collect roof water.

I ENJOY PRINTMAKING BECAUSE: It has a mystery to it. You’re not sure how the image is going to be when you push it through the press. [See Prue’s exhibition The Arbornauts at Railway St Studios and Gallery in Auckland’s Newmarket from 28 April to 17 May.]