Josie Martin awarded

The RNZIH has just announced that the owner of an NZGT 6 star garden, Josie Martin, has been made a Fellow of Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (FRIH). It’s a great honour to receive the FRIH, which is awarded to RNZIH members who have made a significant contribution to horticulture by their activities, interest in, or service to horticulture in New Zealand.

Josie’s garden ‘The Giant’s House’ has been created over a twenty-four year period, and sits in colourful glory, in the coastal town of Akaroa, on Banks Peninsular. The old villa on the property was the starting point for Josie’s imagination to run wild - and its still running! With a background in both horticulture and visual arts, she has created a stunning and unique place which delights everyone who sees it. Her crazy, adorable mosaic sculpture characters which she’s created, sit in contented connection with the beautifully landscaped garden, which is full of clever massed plantings, green lawns, shrubs and clipped hedges. Josie’s incredible passion, imagination and talent in the arts of sculpture and gardening, has given much laughter and joy to the thousands of people who’ve visited.   

It's not surprising that ‘The Giant’s House’ is a much talked about and frequently visited treasure in the lexicon of New Zealand gardens. It’s deserving NZGT 6 star rating is testament to the energy and dedication Josie has invested in her whimsical haven and it’s a tribute to her that she has now become a FRIH. As you’d expect, NZGT is delighted to have her talents recognised this way.

Congratulations Josie Martin, on behalf of NZGT, and Members, if you haven’t already, do visit this wonderful garden which is a surprising, and unexpected delight.