MARGARET BARKER

THE GARDEN AT LARNACH CASTLE A SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE

When William Larnach built his castle in 1871, there was no expense spared, but when Margaret bought the property in 1967 a sign on the door read "Entry fee- 10c. Enter at your own risk" ~such was its dilapidated state. (Weekend Gardener March 15-18, 2007)

Margaret's presentation will be in two parts. The first part will tell of Margaret's travels to Chile, New Caledonia, Lord Howe Island and New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands and show the flowers and plants that she photographed in the wild. Margaret will also tell the story of the Garden at Larnach Castle from its very beginning in the 1870s until the present time. Margaret bought the castle in 1967 and her gardening then was influenced by English books. But increasingly Margaret's interests were influenced by what she saw around her in New Zealand's natural places, and in her travels to other Southern Hemisphere countries. Our place in the South Seas is reflected in the new plantings at Larnach Castle.

To mark the 40 years, Margaret recently launched her book The Garden at Larnach Castle, a New Zealand Story, you will have the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of Margaret's book after the workshop.