GARDEN MARLBOROUGH

Twenty-six years ago, the gates to Patsy Palmer’s Bruntwood Farm garden were opened as part of the first- ever Garden Marlborough festival. Today Patsy’s son and daughter — Wendy and Ross — open their own garden, designed and developed together, to the increasing thousands who enjoy the iconic festival every year.

In the early days, the organizers were nervous they might not sell enough tickets to make a success of it. They needn’t have worried. The region’s many beautiful and varied gardens have more than sold themselves — year after year. Tickets to the garden tours usually sell out. Visitors from throughout Aotearoa and Australia come to see the gardens, to learn in workshops, listen to international speakers and enjoy the glamorous garden party as well as the Sunday morning fête at which they can stock up on armloads of peonies before heading home.

Welton House garden, on the Over the Plains Tour, is a collaboration between Wendy and Ross and is the third garden they have created together.

This year’s Garden Marlborough runs from 7 to 10 November. For more, visit gardenmarlborough.co.nz