Oasis Cottage

31/05/2026

The dried flower corner in Atelier Florale has had a tidy-up.

I cleared out older material that had reached the end of its useful life and replaced it with flowers dried this season. The difference in colour retention has been remarkable, particularly with the purple statice, Pink Pokers and blue delphiniums.

All of these flowers were grown here at Oasis Cottage and dried for use through the quieter months when there is less flowering in the garden. Having a collection ready to dip into makes it easy to experiment with arrangements and small creative projects over winter.

The shelves are looking much better now and are ready for the season ahead.

22/05/2026

A hallway transformation at Oasis Cottage.

We replaced our old white runner with this custom-made design inspired by the shape of a flower, with colours drawn from the peacocks in the wallpaper.

It has brought so much more energy and personality into the entrance hall while still working beautifully with the age of the cottage and the old timber floors.

Tilly immediately approved and spent the afternoon charging up and down it like she owned the place.

Sometimes one bold piece is all a room needs.

19/05/2026

A productive day in the garden today.

We lifted the canopy of the old silver birch trees beside the cut flower garden to allow more light into the growing area. An added bonus was improving our glimpse of the hills beyond.

These birches are certainly not young — they were already this size when I bought the property over 20 years ago.

The trees look far better for the attention, and nothing went to waste either. The prunings were added to the bund we’re gradually building up for shelter from the easterly wind, which is also becoming useful habitat for birds and wildlife.

One of those satisfying jobs that instantly changes the feel of an area.

17/05/2026

A glimpse of one of our big autumn and winter projects.

What was once just an ordinary paddock is slowly being reshaped into a series of island beds leading visitors down towards the pond garden. We’ve been forming gentle mounds and curved planting areas to create movement through both sunny open spaces and cooler shaded pockets.

The vision is for the beds to feel immersive and layered — almost like wandering through a small botanical archipelago.

Much of the planting will focus on foliage for my floristry work, along with grasses to bring softness, height, and movement through the seasons.

There is still a great deal to do, including the pond itself, but it’s exciting to finally see the bones of the area beginning to emerge.

One of the pleasures of gardening is imagining what a space might become long before it gets there.

23/04/2026

There’s something rather special about seeing your story told through someone else’s eyes.

After the excitement of discovering we were on the front cover of NZ House & Garden, we’ve now had a quiet moment to sit down and properly read the feature.

It captures not just the garden, but the journey behind it — how Oasis Cottage has slowly evolved over the years, and the life we’ve built here along the way. From a chance beginning to a garden shaped piece by piece, it feels incredibly meaningful to see it reflected back like this.

We’ve shared a little more about the experience on our website if you’d like to read it: https://www.oasiscottage.com/blogs/blog/oasis-cottage-nz-house-garden-cover

22/04/2026

From experimenting… to finished pieces.

After spending some time in the Atelier Florale trying new techniques and materials, these are the pieces that emerged — each one created from what I could gather from the garden and hedgerows.

I entered them into the Oxford A&P Show, where the flax arrangement was awarded 1st place, the floral crown 2nd, and the small bamboo garden 3rd. A very encouraging result, especially while still learning.

What I enjoyed most was the process — stepping slightly outside what I know, and seeing how far I could push each idea.

They’ve now been placed around the house, where we can live with them and enjoy them quietly in the background.

21/04/2026

A day spent in the Atelier Florale, experimenting.

I’ve been trying out a few new techniques and working with materials I haven’t used before. Not everything works first time, but that’s part of the enjoyment — learning what sits well together and what doesn’t.

What I’ve noticed, more than anything, is how it changes the way I walk through the garden. I start to see it differently — not just as planting, but as a palette of textures, shapes and possibilities.

It’s a very absorbing and satisfying way to spend a day.

20/04/2026

A rather special moment for us…

We were quietly thrilled to discover that Oasis Cottage has been featured on the front cover of the May issue of NZ House & Garden.

To see our home and garden — something we have created together over the years — captured so beautifully is incredibly meaningful. What began as a simple vision has grown into a place we truly love living in, and it feels rather surreal to see it shared on this scale.

A heartfelt thank you to Sue for telling our story so thoughtfully, and to Sarah Rowlands for her stunning photography.

If you happen to come across a copy, do have a look — the feature shares a little of our story and the garden we continue to shape each season.

We’ll share a little more from the article over the coming days.

Steph & Laurie
Oasis Cottage

New Zealand Gardens Trust
On A Roll Curtains and Blinds
LP Garden Design

28/03/2026

There is a great deal of work in a garden that no one notices.

It doesn’t announce itself in flowers or draw attention in photographs. It’s simply the small, repeated tasks — done quietly and consistently — that keep everything in order.

At this time of year, that means deadheading, weeding, keeping the paths clear, mowing when conditions allow, and preparing for the season ahead.

None of it is remarkable on its own. But together, it is what keeps the garden running.

A garden does not run on inspiration. It runs on what is done, quietly, every day.

You can read the full Garden Journal here:

A reflection on the daily work that keeps a garden running, from deadheading and weeding to maintaining order and extending the season.

25/03/2026

The garden is now closed to visitors until Spring.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited Oasis Cottage — the garden clubs, the familiar faces who return each season, and those discovering the garden for the first time. We’ve truly appreciated the conversations, the exchange of ideas, and your kind and encouraging words.

As the season comes to a close, we’ll admit to being rather exhausted. It’s just the two of us maintaining and developing the garden, and by this point, we are certainly feeling the pace of it.

You may have noticed more than a few thistles we hadn’t quite got on top of, the occasional burnt biscuit, and a small dog who is still very much a work in progress — but we hope you enjoyed your visit all the same.

Over the next seven months, we’ll be quietly getting on with the work — refining, reshaping, and bringing the garden back into its best form.

If you’d like to see how the garden evolves through the off-season, we’ll be sharing that here.

We look forward to welcoming you back next season to see the results.

Steph & Laurie