Perennial Paradise is a fusion of permaculture, sustainability, food forest and organic principals.  Jade Temepara’s concept is as we live as one with the land we occupy, we should give and take from it in a balanced way consciously returning more. 

The garden features almost 500 plants supplied by Waimea Nurseries including: Thumbelina™ mini apples (espaliered), standardised Lemon 'Meyer', Grape 'Kyoho', Blackberry 'Black Satin', Persimmon 'Fuyu', Raspberry 'Waiau' and Feijoa 'Triumph' as a hedge.  

Entitled ‘Perennial Paradise’ Jade’s design is much more than a garden. It is about sustainability, self sufficiency, organics and recycling. While it’s very much a souped-up version for the show, this garden is designed to inspire aspiring home horticulturalists to incorporate edibles into their backyards.

Design concept

 The finished garden ready for judging

Jade is  the closest to Super Woman that I’ve ever met. Mother of four daughters, who are home-schooled, with another due to be born during the week of Ellerslie! She established Hand over a Hundy, writes for Weekend Gardener, runs Tipu Design, was NZ Gardener of the Year in 2011 and was nominated for for the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year in 2012 for her work with Hand over a Hundy.

And somehow she has managed to design and implement a fantastic exhibition garden at this year’s Ellerslie International Flower Show in Christchurch, winning a Merit Award. Jade debuted at Ellerslie in 2012 with a 4x4m garden named 'Digging the Future' to raise the profile of the Hand over a Hundy programme, winning a Silver Medal for her efforts that year. 

After the show, almost all of the plants supplied by Waimea Nurseries will be donated to school orchards in mid Canterbury. Jade will provide advice to the students and teachers for the layout, planting and care of these trees so that these are productive for years to come.