What: Arts Whakatāne Art and Garden Trail

When: 10am-4pm, November 23-24

Tickets: $12 from 4art Sake in Ohope, isite Whakatane, email [email protected]

For over three decades, Tania Mischefski has transformed a bare, 30-hectare property on Manawahe Road into the stunning Fantail and Flax garden. Spanning seven acres, the garden is a living testament to her dedication and ecological vision, featuring everything from a 300-tree arboretum to native bush, woodlands, and potager gardens.

"When we bought here it was bare land, there was not a building or tree on it. Pretty much every tree you see, I have planted,” she said.

Visitors can explore parts of this extraordinary garden as part of the Art and Garden Trail, an event held from November 23-24, 10am to 4pm, showcasing 12 gardens and 19 art venues.

Tania’s garden will also feature an art exhibition of a group of local art enthusiasts, while tea and scones will be available for visitors.

Fantail and Flax offers an immersive experience as you weave your way through a series of interconnected spaces, from vibrant potager gardens and a serene Japanese-inspired area, to quiet woodlands and hilltop views looking to the arboretum.

Planted with deciduous trees like maples, oaks, and magnolias, it is especially striking in autumn, while winter interest is provided by trees such as witch hazels and camellias.

Simple and effective topiary – created with natives such as totara, and buxus – provide interesting contrast to the flaxes and other untouched shrubbery and trees.

For Tania, the garden is an ever-evolving tapestry. “Gardens need remodelling over time, like a house. After thirty years, some areas need refreshing.”

Her ongoing renovation work includes replanting and revitalising sections of the garden.

What sets Fantail and Flax apart is its focus on sustainability. A native forest below her house has been planted with 1500 trees over 18 years and has been placed in the Queen Elizabeth National Trust, aimed at protecting diversity on private land.

“It’s beautiful, with a path running through it,” she said.

The garden also provides a sanctuary for wildlife, with a large amount of flax planted to attract birds.

“The garden is oredominantly native with pockets of flowerbeds in between. At our altitude, natives perform the best.”

Some areas are left unmown, so they can go to seed for the birds.

Tania handles most of the maintenance herself, from mowing and pruning to building stone paths and making concrete.

She propagates her own plants and adapts them to the environment, ensuring they thrive without excessive care.

“It’s trial and error – 30 years of working out your site.”

In recent years, Tania has adapted her garden to shifting weather patterns, particularly in response to Cyclone Gabrielle and heavy rainfall.

She reworked her cottage garden to include more resilient perennials like salvia and disease-resistant roses, which thrive without pesticides.

“Every plant is watered only once when it’s first planted,” she explains.

"After that, it must survive on its own. If it doesn’t, it’s not the right plant for this environment.”

When planting, she builds up the soil rather than digging a plant in and returning anything she cuts or prunes back into the ground it was taken from.

“There is no disruption to the structure of the soil.”

The garden’s design is intentionally immersive and tactile, with narrow paths that let visitors feel fully surrounded by the plants. "Things brush past you, and your trousers get wet.”

For those seeking a deeper connection, Tania offers guided tours through secretgardens.co.nz, and glimpses of her garden can be found on Instagram at @fantail_and_flax

Imagination runs wild in town garden

In Ōhope, Judy Britt’s small town garden is a vibrant explosion of colour, creativity, and joy.

Over the past four years, she has transformed a once-neglected outdoor space into a lively, imaginative sanctuary.

“When we moved in, it was just a mess,” Judy said. “I tore everything out and started from scratch.”

The result is a stunning garden that stretches across two small strips directly outside her living area, providing Judy and her husband, Rob, with a constant view of nature’s beauty.

At the heart of Judy's garden are bromeliads, which take centre stage in every shade imaginable. Surrounded by a variety of shrubs and small trees, including maples and a forest pansy, these hardy plants create an explosion of colour throughout the year.

Artistic touches, with sculptures and eclectic decor scattered throughout, make this pocket of beauty even more special. “We trawl for treasures in op shops,” Judy says. “When we see something we like, we can picture how it will fit in.”

A favourite store is Te Puke Ceramics and there is plenty from Morris & James Pottery in Matakana.

Her creations include whimsical sculptures made from items like pretty plates, saucers, and cups, which are reimagined as horizontal works of art – one even lights up at night. Judy and Rob enjoy assembling these pieces together in their lounge before Rob silicone-glues them into place.

Cleverly placed mirrors between the wall art give the garden a sense of depth and space. Even the birds enjoy the mirrors – one young tui spent hours trying to figure out where the bird in the reflection was.

“There are all sorts of silly things in the garden.”

After 50 years as a nurse working with people living with dementia, Judy is now enjoying a well-earned retirement, exploring her creative side.

She describes gardening as a kind of “second childhood”, where her playful spirit can shine.

Judy is also an active member of several garden clubs, including a bromeliad group, where she enjoys sharing her vibrant garden with like-minded enthusiasts.

She is excited to open her garden to the public as part of the Art and Garden Trail, inviting visitors to experience her joyful, artistic haven.