Haven March 2022

PHOTOGRAPHY TODD EYREEAT Kaingia Make the most of the remaining warm evenings with Nici Wickes’ divine barbecue feast, set the table for afternoon tea with Kapiti Coast chef Fi Greig’s baked beauties, and check out the latest in foodie treats. AUTUMN BBQ page 102 AFTERNOON TEASE page 110 EPICURATED page 113 Haven 101

102 Haven

Food Nici Wickes LAST OF THE SUMMER FEASTS Roll summer on into March with gorgeous outdoor dining settings, mouth-watering barbecue food and sensational salads crammed with seasonal ingredients. RECIPES & STYLING NICI WICKES PHOTOGRAPHY TODD EYRE Haven 103

NICI’S NOTE Chicken thighs take more cooking than breast but they have more fat so are pefect for the barbecue – they’ll stay super juicy. If you don’t have metal skewers, you can cook the chicken and peppers on the grill and then thread onto wooden skewers to serve. 104 Haven

Oregano & yoghurt chicken skewers page 108 Haven 105

106 Haven

Late summer salad This salad has it all going on – meltingly soft eggplant, charred corn, buttery potatoes, fresh chilli and a cooling creamy dressing. Serves 4-6 1-2 small eggplants, halved lengthwise NICI’S NOTE ¼ cup olive oil ̀ƪĚîƞƓŰŰťƞĚîƞîŚƪǽîŖĚƞ Leftover green dressing NjŃŚŚŖĚĚƓŃťîœîƖŃťƪĽĚ + extra for serving ĴƖŃēĵĚĴŰƖƲƓƪŰîNjĚĚŖ͋ 3 cups small new potatoes Try it with lamb chops (I used Perlas) ŰƖîƞîŚţŰťƞƪĚîŖ͆ŰƖ 2 corn cobs ƪŰƞƞƪĽƖŰƲĵĽƓîƞƪî͋ Bunch of coriander 1 fresh chilli, sliced thinly DRESSING ½ cup crème fraiche (can use sour cream) ½ cup grated parmesan ¼ cup olive oil 3-4 tablespoons red wine vinegar or lemon juice 1 Make criss-cross cuts along the inside Tomato & watermelon salad of each eggplant half and brush liberally with olive oil. Place cut-side down on I love the time of year when both SALAD a barbecue heated to medium-low. watermelons and tomatoes are 2-3 cups cubed watermelon, chilled Grill until well browned then turn to available so I can indulge in this 2 cups assorted tomatoes, chopped cook further. If it gets too browned on super-tasty salad. The combo either side before it’s silky and cooked may be new to you, but trust me, ŃťƪŰČĽƲťŖƞ through, place it on a double layer of you’re going to love it! Makes Basil leaves to garnish foil to prevent more browning while one medium salad GƖĚƞĽŚǑĵƖŰƲťēċŚîČŖƓĚƓƓĚƖ you continue to cook it. Season with Olive oil for drizzling the salt flakes and set aside. 2 Parboil potatoes in well-salted water, DRESSING 1 Combine the dressing ingredients in adding the corn cobs for the last few ́ČƲƓƞĵƖĚĚťƞ͛ƖŰČŖĚƪ͆ċîƞŃŚ͆ a food processor or blender and process minutes. Drain. Add a splash of olive oil to a thick paste. Taste for seasoning – to the pot, toss, then tumble the veges mint, spinach (any or all) it should have a decent punch to it! onto a hot barbecue plate to cook through ¼ cup roasted almonds To thin it, drizzle in water as you keep and char. When corn is charred in places, 4 tablespoons good olive oil the motor running, or add more oil. remove kernels with a serrated knife. 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 Assemble salad by tumbling chilled 3 Whisk the dressing ingredients A decent squeeze of lemon watermelon and tomatoes onto a large together. Spoon onto a large serving plate and topping with spoonfuls of the plate, spreading the dressing out. Top or lime juice green dressing and fresh basil leaves. with cooked vegetables. Salt well. ̿ƪĚîƞƓŰ۝ȼьŚŃǽîŖĚƞ Add a decent grind of black pepper 4 Scatter fresh coriander and chilli ¼ teaspoon sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil to serve. over the top to serve. Haven 107

NICI’S NOTE To stone nectarines and peaches, cut them through the waist and twist to separate the fruit from the pit, and use a small knife or teaspoon to dig the stone out of the remaining half. Oregano & yoghurt 1 In a bowl, make a simple marinade Grilled stone fruit with chicken skewers by mixing the yoghurt, oregano, salt and ice cream & olive oil lemon juice together. Cut each chicken Skewers of juicy chicken and thigh in half lengthwise and add to Barbecueing stone fruit is a wonderful sweet peppers – divine! Serves 4 the marinade, making sure the chicken way to top off an alfresco dinner. Serve is coated. Leave for 15 minutes (you it with ice cream, nuts, honey and olive ½ cup yoghurt can also leave it overnight). oil and you’ll be in heaven. Serves 4 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves 2 Heat the barbecue grill to medium. Thread chicken and capsicum onto 6-10 stone fruit – I like using a mix (or use 1 heaped teaspoon dried) skewers, brush with oil and place on of apricots, nectarines and peaches ̀ƪĚîƞƓŰŰťƞîŚƪǽîŖĚƞ the grill. Cook until browned on all A squeeze of lemon juice sides – even charred in places, for extra 2 tablespoons good-quality olive oil 4-6 boneless thicken thighs flavour – and the chicken is cooked + extra for drizzling 8 small capsicums or 2 large, through. Brush with more oil as they cook to keep them juicy. Remove Ice cream to serve cut into chunks from barbecue. ½ cup toasted hazelnuts Olive oil for brushing 4 Cook the spring onions on the grill 2 tablespoons runny honey 4 spring onions, cut into 5cm lengths until softened. Extra salt, and a decent grind 5 Blend mint leaves, olive oil, lemon 1 Cut the fruit in half and remove the juice, chilli flakes and salt to a paste. stones. Brush the cut sides with olive oil. of black pepper Swirl this through the yoghurt. Taste Cook on a hot barbecue grill until juicy for seasoning and add more chilli, salt and partly softened, then flip them and YOGHURT MINT SAUCE or lemon juice for flavour. cook a wee bit more. (Don’t move the A handful of mint leaves 6 Serve skewers drizzled with sauce fruit on the grill until it’s well-browned 2 tablespoons olive oil and scattered with spring onions. – that way it won’t stick!) 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 Serve grilled fruit with ice cream and ̿ƪĚîƞƓŰ۝ȼьŚŃǽîŖĚƞ hazelnuts and drizzle with honey then ¼ teaspoon sea salt olive oil. Delish! ½ cup thick Greek yoghurt 108 Haven

Haven 109

Baking SUNDAY BEST Orange and almond biscuits page 112 Whip up a delightful afternoon tea with this trio of treats by chef Fi Greig of Raumati South’s popular Sunday Cantina eatery. PHOTOGRAPHY SHELLEY DOWN 110 Haven

Chocolate mousse cake page 112 Haven 111

Vegan date scones Orange and Chocolate mousse cake almond biscuits Makes 6 large or 8 medium Makes 1 cake or 12 slices Makes 10 ̂ČƲƓƞǽŰƲƖ ̃̄˿ĵØĽŃƪƪîŖĚƖͩƞ̆́Χ ̀̾ČƲƓƞēîƪĚƞ͆ČĽŰƓƓĚē ́ČƲƓƞĵƖŰƲťēîŚţŰťēƞ ēîƖŖČĽŰČŰŚîƪĚ ̀̾ƪîċŚĚƞƓŰŰťƞċîŖŃťĵƓŰNjēĚƖ ̀ČƲƓČîƞƪĚƖƞƲĵîƖ ̀ƪîċŚĚƞƓŰŰťČŃťťîţŰť èĚƞƪŰĴ̀ŰƖîťĵĚ ́́̄ĵċƲƪƪĚƖ ̀îƓƓŚĚ͆ĵƖîƪĚē ̀ƪĽƲţċŰĴĵŃťĵĚƖ͆ƓĚĚŚĚē ̈Ěĵĵƞ͆ƞĚƓîƖîƪĚē ̀ČƲƓŚĚţŰťîēĚ  îťēĵƖîƪĚē ̴̢̽ČƲƓČîƞƪĚƖƞƲĵîƖ ̀ČƲƓČŰČŰťƲƪţŃŚŖ ̀ƪîċŚĚƞƓŰŰťĽŰťĚǑ ̀ĚĵĵNjĽŃƪĚ͆ċĚîƪĚť 1 Preheat your oven to 180°C. Melt 1 Preheat your oven to 180°C. Mix ̀ČƲƓŃČŃťĵƞƲĵîƖ͆ĴŰƖƖŰŚŚŃťĵ the chocolate and butter together the dry and wet ingredients together in a double boiler or stainless steel in a large mixing bowl. Using your 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C. In bowl over a pot of simmering water. hands, roll the dough out onto a a mixing bowl, add the almonds, Be careful not to have the heat too lightly floured and clean surface. sugar, orange and ginger and stir to high – you don’t want it to burn. Shape into a long log and cut into combine. Next, add in the honey and Once it’s done, remove from the heat. 6-8 scones, depending on what size beaten egg white. Mix until it comes 2 Beat the egg whites until stiff. Beat you’d like to make them. together in a ball-shaped dough. the egg yolks and sugar in a separate 2 Bake them in the oven for 20 Put the icing sugar into a bowl. bowl until creamy and pale. minutes and serve them up with 2 Form dough into balls of about 3 Combine the egg yolk and sugar some jam and freshly whipped 45g each and roll them in the icing mix with the chocolate, then gently coconut cream! sugar. (Tip! Don’t do this with your fold through the egg whites. Don’t hands because the warmth of your over-mix, otherwise you end up hands rolling the dough will push losing all the air that helps it rise. the icing sugar into the mixture and 4 Once it’s thoroughly combined, it won’t give you that nice crunchy place it into a lightly greased and texture when it cooks.) lined cake tray and chuck it in the 3 Place the balls onto a lined tray, oven for 20 minutes or until it’s flatten slightly with a fork, and cook slightly cracking on the top. for 15 minutes or until golden. 5 Remove it from the oven and let These will keep in an airtight it cool in the fridge until you’re container in the cupboard for 5 days. ready to eat it. 6 Drizzle over some chocolate ganache for a real chocolate hit! Otherwise, good ol’ whipped cream or ice cream will do the trick too. ťĚēŃƪĚēĚǐƪƖîČƪĴƖŰţ Sunday CantinaċǑGŃ HƖĚŃĵ͆îČŰŚŚĚČƪŃŰťŰĴ̅˿ ƖĚČŃƓĚƞ͆ĴƖŰţċƖĚîŖĴîƞƪƞ ƪŰċîŖŃťĵ͆ţîťǑŰĴNjĽŃČĽ îƖĚƖîNj͆NJĚĵîť͆ƞƲĵîƖ͞ ĴƖĚĚîťēĵŚƲƪĚť͞ĴƖĚĚ ͘ƞƲťēîǑČîťƪŃťî͋ČŰţ͆ͷ͙̃̈͋ 112 Haven

Food news Return to the strip LOVE A 0Q%g NEGRONI? Famed eatery Sidart has reopened in TIME FOR TOAST Ponsonby, Auckland, and with it comes Hastings Distillers has Kiwi brands Pic’s and Vogel’s a new chef, as Lesley Chandra takes you sorted with its new have united to create a nut and over from Sid and Chand Sahrawat. Rubis Rouge vermouth. seed butter that brings together Expect Indian-inspired flavours With notes of red ƪĽĚŃƖǽîĵƞĽŃƓǽîNJŰƲƖƞ͋¡ŃČͩƞŃĵ with a contemporary approach and berries, warm spice, Mix combines the seeds from a Fijian-Indian twist, in a nod to bitter cacao and dried ×ŰĵĚŚͩƞċƖĚîēNjŃƪĽ¡ŃČͩƞƓĚîťƲƪ the new chef’s heritage. ƞŃēîƖƪ͋ČŰ͋ťǛ herbs, this addition to your bar will make ċƲƪƪĚƖ͋ƓŃČƞƓĚîťƲƪċƲƪƪĚƖ͋ČŰţ your Negronis sing. ĽîƞƪŃťĵƞēŃƞƪŃŚŚĚƖƞ͋ČŰţ EPICURATED Tasty treats, tempting tipples and other foodie finds. GREEN CUISINE SNACK TIME Mother Earth’s new Wellbeing ¹ĽĚŚîƪĚƞƪgĚ ƖĚƲƞĚƪČŰŚŰƲƖ͆ċîţċŰŰ͆ŃƞîƖŃČĽ͆ŰƖĵîťŃČƞĽîēĚƪĽîƪ ċîƖƞîƖĚƪîƞƪǑƓŃČŖ͞ţĚ͞ƲƓƞƪĽîƪ îƪŰťČĚƲƓŚŃĴƪƞîťēƞŰŰƪĽĚƞ͆ƞĽŃťŃťĵŃƪƞƓĚƖĚťťŃîŚċĚîƲƪǑŃťƞŃēĚƪĽĚ combine the goodness of oats, ŖŃƪČĽĚťîťēŰťƪĽĚƪîċŚĚ͋ ƖîĴƪĚēƪŰċĚîƪƖƲĚĵƖĚĚť͆ƪĽŃƞƖĚƞƪŰƖîƪŃNJĚ seeds, nuts, grains with fruit ĽƲĚƖĚǽĚČƪƞƪƖĚťēƞƪŰNjîƖēƞĚČŰ͞ƞĚťƞŃċŃŚŃƪǑ͋ îťēǑƲţţǑČĽŰČŰŚîƪĚ͋¡ĚƖĴĚČƪ ¹ĽĚČŰŚŚĚČƪŃŰťѝȌƲēĚƞgĚ ƖĚƲƞĚƪͩƞ ĴŰƖî̂ƓţċŰŰƞƪŰƖŚƲťČĽċŰǐ ŃČŰťŃČČîƞƪ͞ŃƖŰťČîƞƞĚƖŰŚĚƞ͆NJĚƖƞîƪŃŚĚ ċîŖŃťĵēŃƞĽĚƞ͆ƞƪŰťĚNjîƖĚēŃťťĚƖNjîƖĚ͆ ƪƖĚîƪ͋ţŰƪĽĚƖĚîƖƪĽ͋ČŰ͋ťǛ îƞƪŰNJĚƪŰƓNjĽŃƞƪŚŃťĵŖĚƪƪŚĚ͆ţŃŚŚƞ͆ îťēţŰƖĚ͋NJîŃŚîċŚĚîƪgĚ ƖĚƲƞĚƪ THE SUMMER DROP ŰƲƪŃƕƲĚŃťØĚƞƪǼĚŚē qŰîƖĚNjŃťĵ ŰͩƞŚîƪĚƞƪēƖŰƓ͆ sĚNjţîƖŖĚƪ͆ƲČŖŚîťē͆ qŰƪƲĚŖîOîǛǑT¡͆ŃƞîČŰŚŚîċ ͘˿͙̈̂˿̂̂̄̂̈͋ NjŃƪĽ¹îƞţîť͞ċîƞĚēƓƖŰēƲČĚƖƞ ŚĚČƖĚƲƞĚƪ͋ČŰţ͋îƲ ŚîǑƪŰťOŰƓƞîťēsèOŰƓƞ͋ ¹ĽĚƖĚƞƲŚƪŃƞîĴƲŚŚ͞ċŰēŃĚēT¡ Exclusive gin NjŃƪĽČŃƪƖƲƞ͆îƓƖŃČŰƪîťēƓĚîČĽ Kiwi distillery Scapegrace has created a ČĽîƖîČƪĚƖƞ͋ţŰîċĚĚƖ͋ČŰţ new limited-edition gin, Uncommon, Haven 113 which showcases seasonal local produce and botanicals. It’s inspired by flavours from Central Otago and Hawke’s Bay, from nectarines and lavender to pear and olive brine. ƞČîƓĚĵƖîČĚēŃƞƪŃŚŚĚƖǑ͋ČŰţ

114 Haven

PHOTOGRAPHY WARREN HEATH, REUBEN LOOI GRWOWhakatupu We take the spiky with the smooth in an indoor array of succulents, Rachel Clare sets her sights high with vertical gardening, and Georgie Malyon gets rosy with flowers fit for a fiesta. SUCCULENT STYLE page 116 NATURAL HIGH page 122 BLOOMING LOVELY page 126 Haven 115

Pot plants Succulent morsels Succulents are an extraordinary, resilient species. Their unique combination of form and fortitude makes them ideal for creative container planting. 116 Haven

Haven 117

WARM WELCOME Plant profile The soft grey-green hues of a collection of succulents • These fascinating and sometimes creates a pleasing contrast next to the organic bizarre-looking plants get their name warmth of terracotta and stone. This is a particularly from the Latin word “sucus”, meaning interesting juxtaposition in an ultra-modern home. juice or sap. This refers to their thick Choose appropriate surfaces for your pots and other îťēǽĚƞĽǑŚĚîNJĚƞ͆NjĽŃČĽĽĚŚƓƪŰƖĚƪîŃť containers (ensure indoor plants have access to a few water and nutrients in arid and other hours of sunlight a day) and display groupings of extreme conditions. succulents with different leaf-profiles and hues. Vary • Succulents originate from Central the sizes, heights and shapes of your containers too, and South America, the European for a sense of layering and visual intrigue. Alps and Africa. • There are more than 60 families of 118 Haven succulents, accounting for more than ̀˿͆˿˿˿NJîƖŃĚƪŃĚƞ͋ ̈́qŰƖĚČŰţţŰťŚǑŖťŰNjťîƞēĚƞĚƖƪŰƖ semi-desert plants, certain succulents ƞƲČĽîƞŰƖŰƞƪîČĽǑƞîťēƖŰƞƲŚîƖŃîîƖĚ îċŚĚƪŰƞƲƖNJŃNJĚŃťƞťŰNj͋ ̈́¹ĽĚċîŰċîċƪƖĚĚ͆ťîƪŃNJĚƪŰĴƖŃČîîťē Australia, is the largest succulent plant in the world.

Succulents survive best in ŚŃĵĽƪ͞ǼŚŚĚē͆îŃƖǑċîƪĽƖŰŰţƞ͛ ċƲƪċĚČîƖĚĴƲŚťŰƪƪŰŰNJĚƖ͞NjîƪĚƖ ƪĽĚţ͆îƞƪĽĚǑͩŚŚîċƞŰƖċţŰŃƞƪƲƖĚ ĴƖŰţƪĽĚîŃƖ͋ÞŰƲͩŚŚîŚƞŰNjîťƪ ƪŰŖĚĚƓƪĽĚţîNjîǑĴƖŰţƞƓŰƪƞ NjĽĚƖĚƪĽĚǑͩŚŚĵĚƪƞƓŚîƞĽĚē͋ OîƖēǑîŚŰĚNJĚƖîŃƞîƓîƖƪŃČƲŚîƖŚǑ ĽîƓƓǑċîƪĽƖŰŰţ͞ēNjĚŚŚĚƖ͛îťē îƞîċŰťƲƞ͆ǑŰƲČîƖNJĚƞƪƪĽĚ ĵĚŚŃťƞŃēĚîƞîţŰŃƞƪƲƖŃƞĚƖ͈ URBAN OASIS CROWD-PLEASERS Greenery in the bathroom is great for your serenity. There’s strength in numbers, particularly if you’re Often occupied by ferns and other lush species, a plant. No, really – it’s science. Closely grouping bathrooms are also excellent environments for plants increases the level of water vapour, which succulents. They have more specific requirements enhances their general wellbeing. Make succulents in this particular space though – while succulents the main event on a coffee table – not only does your such as aloes can tolerate fairly high humidity, other little succulent family then become a conversation varieties will need the air to circulate freely, as well piece, but also something of a Zen garden you can as plenty of sunlight, if they’re to thrive. tend to or rearrange while you watch TV. → Haven 119

These fascinating-looking PHOTOGRAPHY WARREN HEATH/BUREAUX TEXT MANDY ALLEN PRODUCTION SVEN ALBERDING/BUREAUX lithops are a genus of succulents from the ice plant family. Can you guess why they are commonly referred to as stone plants or living stones? NATURAL CURIOSITIES The unique beauty of succulents makes them one of the most intriguing family of plants. Early botanists and naturalists were fascinated by their extraordinary forms and ability to survive in extreme habitats, and they soon become prized as ornamental plants in the home – a trend that can be traced back to the Victorian era, which saw a public frenzy for curious and other-worldly fauna and flora. POT STARS Rustic terracotta pots are fitting containers for groupings of succulents – the more weathered, the better. A collection of distressed pots with subtle imperfections is bang on-trend, reflecting our yearning for authenticity and a sense of the handmade in our homes. WINDOW DRESSING An eye-catching indoor miniature garden enhances a sense of calm in the bedroom. A collection of greenery is also a great distraction if the view from your window is less than desirable. How to care for your succulents • Succulents are dependent on Specialist cacti mix is also their growing season and less good light (bright but not searing available at garden shops. during winter. sunlight), temperatures that do • Water lightly, preferably with • The beauty of planting your not dip below freezing during a mister, typically every 10-14 collection in small pots is that you winter, preferably good air days. Keep in mind that every can easily move them into more movement, watering during plant is different, so it’s best appropriate environments as their growing season and soil to assess its particular needs seasons change. that drains well. and respond accordingly. Add • Pluck any drying or dead leaves • To plant, use two-parts sand or nutrients with a diluted organic from your succulents. ǼťĚĵƖîNJĚŚ͆ŰťĚ͞ƓîƖƪĵîƖēĚťŚŰîţ fertiliser according to package • Repot succulents into a bigger instructions. Plants will need container in late winter/early and one-part compost made from more water and nutrients during spring, to encourage plant growth. broken-down leaf mould. 120 Haven

Subscribe Kiwi homes with heart w#/+-(2(.+!/% KIWI HOMES WITH HEART MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION 10 BIG IDEAS (Cancel anytime) How to make little $7.99 rooms look larger per month NEW Includes free digital CANDLES, subscription worth $6 CUSHIONS, 12 MONTH Free LAMPS SUBSCRIPTION & RUGS DELIVERY $6.99 CREATIVE per month Free SMALL SPACES DIGITAL ACCESS A cabin cutie, an arty urban retreat, a groovy inner-city pad & a cosy country cottage COOL & COMPACT Style solutions, mini makeovers & easy interior updates SUBSCRIBE NOW AT havenmagazine.co.nz OR CALL 0800 776 247 Subscription auto-renews. Cancel anytime. T&Cs Apply.

The avant gardener THE ONLY WAY IS UP Vertical gardens increase our growing In my opinion, we should be surrounded by plants space, green up urban landscapes and at all times – this means indoors and outdoors, reduce carbon emissions. So aim high! and not just at ground level. We need them. David Attenborough says so too, in his new series The !wŒ&{ Green Planet. Yes, that’s right, another series. “He looks like an 80-year-old, not a 95-year-old,” 122 Haven my 10-year-old keeps saying, with deep love and admiration. My 12-year-old reckons he’ll definitely outlive the Queen. In the show, which has glorious The Day of the Triffids-esque footage of plants competing with each other in a race to survive, Sir David reminds us that plants are responsible for every breath of air we take and every mouth of food we eat. The conundrum of modern life is that high-density living means that many of us have less outdoor space to cultivate our own urban jungles, particularly if

The green walls on St Marks apartments in Remuera, Auckland, are predominantly made up of native species. Ficus pumilia (left) is a great option for small spaces, as it doesn’t protrude far from the wall. we’re in an apartment or townhouse. So what do you jasmine or native clematis (Clematis paniculata), do when you’ve run out of ground space? You take which produces scented white flowers over spring a leaf out of nature’s book and plant species that and summer. Another fantastic climbing native, have evolved to hitch a ride up walls – or you plant which will create a bobbly wall of texture with its tiny, a garden on your roof. wiry strands of leaves, is Muehlenbeckia complexa or waekāhu. If green bores you, bougainvillea will Natural-born climbers make a flamboyant pink or orange splash against walls and create a Mediterranean feel – but do Most buildings and walls look better clad in a cloak remember that it’s prickly, which is not so good of green, and that’s where plants that like to climb are if you’re often brushing against it. Most climbers at your service. There are the usual effective clingers- need a framework to creep up, so rig up some wire on, such as ivy and Virginia creeper, but if space is or trellis to get them growing in the direction you at an absolute premium, choose one that grows flat want. You can also grow most of them in planters, against the wall like the creeping fig (Ficus pumila). provided you give them good-quality soil and a Its leaves are so small and flat that it almost resembles decent-sized pot and remember to water them. → green wallpaper. Or, grow a wall of scent by planting Haven 123

Don’t forget about planting on roofs, particularly if you’re undertaking a new build and can incorporate a garden into your design. Off the wall of which contain native plants well suited to upwardly mobile living, such as rengarenga, flax, hebe, carex, Landscape gardeners have been greening up the ground covers, astelia and even dwarf pōhutukawa. interiors and exteriors of buildings with living walls for decades, creating urban jungles that mimic With the climate warming up and the race on for the way certain plants scale trees or rocks and cliffs. our government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions In Aotearoa, landscaping business Natural Habitats by 2030, we will need a lot more of these space-saving is an expert at wrapping buildings up in a great big solutions, says Tom McCarthy, Auckland regional dose of living, breathing nature. The company creates manager of Natural Habitats. green walls for both residential and commercial spaces – its 750sqm wall at Westfield Newmarket in “Green walls cool the air, reduce pollutants, cleanse Auckland contains 18,000 plants and is the largest stormwater, reduce run-off and pollutants running living wall in the southern hemisphere, and its living into the ocean, they’re food and shelter for fauna, walls of native plants that scale five storeys of the they increase biodiversity, insulate buildings and St Marks apartments in Remuera are among the assist with sound proofing,” he says. tallest in the country, and helped earn the building a Homestar sustainability rating from the New As well as keeping buildings cool in summer Zealand Green Building Council. through their blanket-effect insulation, living walls can decrease heat loss in buildings by as much as Using innovative technology, Natural Habitats 30 percent in winter, according to a 2021 study has developed incredibly lightweight structures and – which means they reduce your heating and growing substrates for their vertical gardens, many air-conditioning bills while reducing emissions. 124 Haven

PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES, NATURAL HABITATS Built-in pockets along Tasks for March a wall can provide nooks for small plants (above). WINTER FARE This Auckland garage Capitalise on all that sunshine roof (facing page) was and give winter crops a head transformed into a living start before the temperature space by landscape drops. Sow carrots, beetroots and company Natural Habitats. radishes directly. Make sure you till ǑŰƲƖƞŰŃŚNjĚŚŚǼƖƞƪƞŰƪĽĚǑĵƖŰNjťŃČĚ Do try this at home straight roots, and keep the soil moist while they are germinating. You can Though you’ll need to employ the services of green- also sow or plant Asian greens such tech experts if you want to clad your entire house as bok choi and choy sum. Sown from in plants, there is a range of smaller DIY modular or seed, they’ll germinate in six weeks. fabric pocket systems you can install at home. Many Or you can plant seedlings. come with their own irrigation systems so you don’t have to water them constantly. Just make sure you SAVE SEEDS check the weight of your structure before growing With summer annuals going one on a fence. They’re also a great space-saving way to seed, now is a good time to grow food – strawberries, rocket and herbs grow to save seed. Simply pick well in modular systems. And don’t forget about the whole dried seed head, pop it into a planting on roofs, particularly if you’re undertaking paper bag and give it a shake to loosen a new build and can incorporate a garden into your up the seeds. Store your stash in a jar design. For existing structures, plants like succulents – and don’t forget to label it unless you that barely require any soil and can handle the dry want a lucky dip next spring. can be a good option for flat roofs such as garages, but if you want to go full rooftop garden, Tom advises GIVE HERBS A HAIRCUT checking with a builder to ensure your intended roof – AND GROW MORE is structurally sound. You’ll also have to factor in Perennial herbs such as irrigation, and waterproof it to avoid leaks. thyme, sage, rosemary and mint will be looking a bit leggy by now as they run out of steam. Prune them ċîČŖ͆ѝȌƲēŃťĵǽŰNjĚƖĽĚîēƞîťēƞĚĚēƞ͆ to encourage new growth. You can also take cuttings if you want new herbs. Mint and rosemary are easy to propagate this way. Take a 5-10cm stem of fresh growth from your plant, strip off the bottom leaves and place in a jar of water. Once it has roots around 8cm long, plant it into a container of potting mix. COLLECT LEAVES Make a big pile and jump into it! But seriously, autumn leaves are an excellent source of free carbon, so gather them up and add them to your compost heap – the more you can add the better, as all those tiny microbes that break down organic matter in your heap work harder and faster if they get two buckets of browns (carbon) to one bucket of greens ( nitrogen). If it hasn’t rained for weeks, your compost heap may be a bit dry so give it a blast with the hose to moisten it. Haven 125

Blooms Floral fiesta Georgie Malyon puts on her rose-tinted glasses, gets out her darning needle and paintbrushes and elevates florals to new heights. PHOTOGRAPHY REUBEN LOOI 126 Haven

Make a celebratory garland 1 The Ancient Greeks knew where 2 it was at when it came to garlands Resene – they were constantly stringing up Hypnotic flowers for their parties. I’ve gone for a full fiesta-coloured selection Resene of roses for my garland, but you Tango could instead go autumnal and use leaves. You also need a piece of Resene dowel, a darning needle, clear nylon Scrumptious thread, ribbon, two hooks, scissors, Resene Testpots and paintbrushes. Haven 127 Attach the hooks to each end of your dowel, then paint it. If you’re using a range of colours, you could use painter’s tape so you get a nice even line between each colour, or paint them so they bleed into each other, like I did – just wait for each colour to dry before you add the next. I used Resene Hypnotic, Resene Tango and Resene Scrumptious. →

3 Cut three pieces of nylon thread to equal length, long enough that they’ll hang down in a U-shape from your dowel. Tie off both ends of each piece of nylon with a loop so your roses don’t slip off once you start threading them, and for easy hanging. Pierce the threaded needle up through the centre 4 of the first rose – this will allow your roses to all sit nicely upon each other when they’re threaded, but you could instead go through the sides of the roses, depending on their size and how you want them to sit. Continue threading roses onto the nylon, gently pushing each rose down along the thread until it’s completely covered in roses. 128 Haven

You could spritz your 5 Tie ribbon to the hooks at the end of each roses to keep them fresh piece of dowel and suspend your garland from for longer but if, like the ceiling. Now attach your threaded roses to Roky the Brussels griffon, the dowel, tying one end to the hooks and the you’re too pooped to other end around the dowel, and spacing your bother, they’ll also dry three garlands along the dowel evenly. For full beautifully if your room carnivalesque impact, make a couple of these is warm and dry. and hang them at slightly different lengths. Haven 129

Resident pet Bun Bun-dle of joy Like many businesses, canine PHOTOGRAPHY PETA MAZEY TEXT SHARON STEPHENSON clothing and accessories company A Wellington toy poodle and clothing Sparkles the Dog was created to mascot is a model of loyalty and love. fulfil a need that wasn’t being met. Back in 2006, Wellingtonian 130 Haven Catherine Young was searching for a natural sweater for Sparkles, her toy poodle. “I could only find acrylic and polyester clothing that made him irritable,” says the former banker, “so I created our own natural sweaters, T-shirts, leads and collars.” Sadly, Sparkles passed away in 2018, and Catherine, her husband Darren and children Laika, 12, and Lucas, 11, filled the dog-shaped hole in their lives with Bun Bun, a now four-year-old apricot-coloured toy poodle, who often models for Catherine. “Bun Bun is the sweetest dog. She charms everyone she meets. We’ve literally had people stop their cars in the middle of the road to ask about her.” She’s also Catherine’s sidekick, a constant presence in the home office. “Bun Bun nestles against me when I’m watching TV but spreads her love around equally, taking it in turns to sleep on the kids’ beds.” The couple bought their 1890s Thorndon house in 2009 to suit their growing family, and have renovated it. “My style is simple, contemporary and hopefully homey,” she says. “Everything is child-proof and animal-proof and nothing is too precious.” That includes an impressive art collection that the couple bought pre-children. “There are always a lot of the kids’ friends in this house, but nothing has been damaged.” Catherine couldn’t imagine life without a four-legged friend. “Dogs give out so much positive, happy energy. Our love for Bun Bun is unlimited.”

75867<285 1 $ 7 8 5 $ / ,167,1&76