Page 126 - homestyle New Zealand (February - March 2020)

LIVING —— Garden

ABOVE On arrival at Flora in Clay workshops, the first order of the day is selecting your vase. Numbers are drawn out of a hat, then there’s a flurry of exchanges until everyone’s
happy with their chosen vessel. Moving out to the rose garden, Milly shares her knowledge of the varieties she’s growing, and you can snip away to your heart’s content.
Round out your pickings with floppy-headed wildflowers and foliage, then get creative styling an amazing arrangement to take home, before celebrating with a shared
feast around an abundant grazing table by Tamahere’s Punnet Eatery.

sort of tells me where it’s heading. Milly’s gardens. I’ve found that different creatively and I feel very privileged
After that, it needs to survive all gardens directly influence how I paint, to be able to grow and design with
the various processes, from wet to which has been fascinating to experiment my own flowers.
eventually becoming vitrified vessels with. It’s a joy to have access to Milly’s
covered in glass. I then pick out the diverse plants. Milly, what’s your advice for anyone
number of pieces needed for our guests, wanting to start a flower garden? M: Start
plus extras for swapping. I choose a What do you find most rewarding about small and grow what you love. Growing
variety of works because you never your creative practices? C: I love the for cut flowers definitely comes with its
really know which pieces people process of creating — it’s addictive. I challenges, but if you commit to a scale
will choose. I’ve been surprised also enjoy the mediative state my mind that’s practical, you’ll enjoy the process
often enough now to know never reaches when I’m working. For hours far more. No matter how much space
to make assumptions. it will drift around thoughts while I you have in your garden, you can always
subconsciously create. grow something beautiful.
Are the flowers in your paintings M: I love working with the seasons. Follow @primmgardens to keep an
informed by Milly’s gardens? C: All The gardens are always changing; the eye out for details on the next Flora
of my realistic garden works reference rhythm and connection inspires me in Clay workshop.

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