AboutVirescent Gardens is a predominantly sole trader gardening service based in Lower Hutt. Of my time in horticulture, 20 of those years have been spent tending and growing plants and gardens in Wellington's harsh and challenging environment.
I have no illusions about what will and won't work in this windswept place and no doubt that I can create and maintain the look and feel that you want despite these challenges! |
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Helen Mechen - Owner Operator / Horticulturalist
"I have a background in science and art and find a perfect balance of the two in horticulture"
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My entrance into horticulture twenty five years ago was firmly rooted in organics and conservation and I still hold strong to these principles. Experience has taught me that the key to maintaining plant health is setting up a good foundation and detecting problems early. Be it deficiencies, pests and diseases or environmental issues, in most cases observation and early action significantly reduces the need for toxic chemicals. We are lucky these days that awareness is growing and there is an extremely effective suite of organic products to promote health and fight almost all common ailments in the garden. I'm committed to keeping homes, and the greater environment, free of damaging toxins.
Putting the right plants in the right place and feeding the earth rather than the plant promotes resilience in the face of most stressors. Native plants are tough, beautiful and versatile and whether it's pure native or a mixture of native and complementary exotics, I use them and grow them in abundance. Your garden will always look better if the plants are at home in the environment and lets not forget all the special and unique creatures who'd like to make your garden their home.
Education
I'm passionate about education. I've done a range of work with adults and children both art based and environmental including; apprentice training, school holiday programs, Enviro-schools activities, Junior Rangers, public talks and workshops, school nursery visits, night classes, adult employment opportunities and writing.
We live in a time when more and more people, especially children, are disconnected from the natural world. Whatever I can do to turn people back on to nature I want to do it.
Putting the right plants in the right place and feeding the earth rather than the plant promotes resilience in the face of most stressors. Native plants are tough, beautiful and versatile and whether it's pure native or a mixture of native and complementary exotics, I use them and grow them in abundance. Your garden will always look better if the plants are at home in the environment and lets not forget all the special and unique creatures who'd like to make your garden their home.
Education
I'm passionate about education. I've done a range of work with adults and children both art based and environmental including; apprentice training, school holiday programs, Enviro-schools activities, Junior Rangers, public talks and workshops, school nursery visits, night classes, adult employment opportunities and writing.
We live in a time when more and more people, especially children, are disconnected from the natural world. Whatever I can do to turn people back on to nature I want to do it.
