Set in picturesque Central Otago, a garden designed to soothe and calm the senses calls the St John Ambulance base, home. The client appointed Natural Habitats to complete planting installation for their newly developed site. Given the occupants of the premises work high stress jobs, the garden needed to make the work environment pleasant to relax in.

The planting palette is inspired by the local Cromwell environment, with rugged naturally occurring native such as Poa cita and Hebe toparia. As exotics often feature in local gardens and the wider environment, the palette also features Sedum Autumn Joy and Rosmarinus ‘Tuscan Blue’ and stone fruit trees synonymous with Cromwell.

Despite the site being small and flat, it did feature a challenge typical of the Central Otago region – Winter. Due to the timing of the brief, team were required to get the site planted prior to the ground freezing. This required careful time management and patience to complete planting in the sun.

The impact of the garden is significant, breathing life into the new building and surrounds. What was formerly a flat, bare site is now a thoughtfully and beautifully planted garden that adds interest and value to the property. The highlight being a soothing spot to breaks in the outdoor courtyard or under the oak tree.