Creating every aspect of this garden from a bare paddock in the middle of a vineyard has been a blessing to balance Deborah’s work and home life. The self-proclaimed “poker-inner sort of gardener – if it looks good stick it in somewhere” Deborah has an intuition that has developed into a beautiful natural country garden. I’d go as far as to say whimsical – Deborah delights in her “weeds” with yarrow, heal-all, euphorbia and dandelions popping up colour alongside poppies, phacelia, scabiosa, gaura, salvia and calendula – there is no want for colour in this garden.

The circa 13ha property on Te Muna Road (te reo Māori for secret or special place) lives up to its translated name. Redbank Estate vineyard is truly a very special place for Deborah and her husband Colin Carruthers to relax, and enjoy the birds, and the animals – including two Labradors.

Creating the garden hasn’t been all poppies and roses; the first fruit trees and shrubs Deborah carefully chose and planted 15 years ago were all ripped out by a classic Wairarapa nor’westerly. Then the wicked Wairarapa frost killed off the next plantings. Determined not to be beaten, the fruit trees were planted in a fully enclosed cage – serving multiple purposes, to shelter from the wind and frost as well as to protect the fruit from birds.