Oasis Cottage

Oasis Cottage Oasis Cottage is a NZGT 3-star country garden growing toward 4-star status.

We offer garden visits, florist services for Oxford, floristry and botanical skincare making workshops, and an intimate wedding venue set within our five-acre garden.

01/01/2026

Midsummer, officially.

Rain at last, and the log burner lit.
After weeks of wind and dry heat, the house feels settled again.

Midsummer is not a beginning.In the garden, everything is already underway. Growth demands care rather than enthusiasm, ...
31/12/2025

Midsummer is not a beginning.

In the garden, everything is already underway. Growth demands care rather than enthusiasm, attention rather than momentum.

I’ve written a short reflection on choosing principles over resolutions, and on continuing deliberately rather than reactively.

A Peg in the Sand is now on the blog.

https://www.oasiscottage.com/blogs/blog/a-peg-in-the-sand

Every morning starts here.At this desk. With the light coming through the old sash window and the garden quietly getting...
29/12/2025

Every morning starts here.
At this desk. With the light coming through the old sash window and the garden quietly getting on with things outside.

I still enjoy the digital world, but I need a counterbalance. So most mornings I write or type on one of my vintage typewriters – slower, more deliberate, and far less distracting. It suits me.

The desk sits hard up against the window so I can work in the morning sun, with the garden in full view. Two pots of Begonia boliviensis are currently perched on chairs beneath the sill, right where I can admire them while I work. They’re my favourite begonias – elegant, unfussy, and quietly spectacular.

I bought these old Chinese scrolls at an auction recently and absolutely love them. They’ll need a little renovation ove...
06/12/2025

I bought these old Chinese scrolls at an auction recently and absolutely love them. They’ll need a little renovation over winter, but even in their faded state they bring such a lovely sense of the garden indoors.

The peony scrolls are easy to recognise, but the lilac-toned piece has me guessing… wisteria? Plum blossom? Something else entirely?

01/12/2025

This little triangular bed has driven me slightly mad for years. It’s an awkward shape, sits between two hedges, and everything I tried either sulked, swamped its neighbours, or just looked… wrong.

But I think I’ve finally cracked it.

The “recipe” that seems to balance the space is:
• Rosa ‘Boscobel’ for structure and colour
• Alchemilla mollis to soften the edges
• Bearded iris for height and drama
• White lavender to calm it all down and fill the gaps

It’s taken some trial and error (and a fair bit of muttering), but the bed finally feels intentional rather than accidental. Very satisfying to stand back and see it working at last.

It's been a very windy day here again! Unfortunately, even stronger winds are forecast for tomorrow, Sunday, 30th Novem...
29/11/2025

It's been a very windy day here again! Unfortunately, even stronger winds are forecast for tomorrow, Sunday, 30th November, so we have decided not to open the garden that day as it will be most unpleasant to walk around. Our apologies if you had planned on coming out.

27/11/2025

So easy to grow and dry, providing lots of colour and inspiration for winter crafts.

I know it’s a bit early, but when I spotted this Christmas mat at Mitre 10 for $24, resistance was futile. The fake flow...
15/11/2025

I know it’s a bit early, but when I spotted this Christmas mat at Mitre 10 for $24, resistance was futile. The fake flowers on the door are on borrowed time — I’ll make a proper festive wreath next week.

06/11/2025

I spent time in the Atelier Florale workshop making four bouquets — three for the bridesmaids and one for the bride-to-be, a gift from her soon-to-be husband to be delivered the night before the wedding (earning himself some early brownie points).

Each bouquet had its own mood: cream, pink, orange, and purple for the bride herself. I used a mix of roses, alstroemeria and statice — simple, reliable flowers that never let you down — and together they worked beautifully.

04/11/2025

Nothing like a can of spray paint to quickly tidy up the outdoor furniture, ready for another season. I've also ordered fancy new cushions from , which will arrive soon!

I wasn’t too sure about combining similar tones in this border, but I’ve ended up really liking how it’s turned out. The...
02/11/2025

I wasn’t too sure about combining similar tones in this border, but I’ve ended up really liking how it’s turned out. The Bearded Iris ‘Pat Loughran’ and Dutch Iris ‘Blue Magic’ create a rich, layered effect — velvety purples and indigo blues that shift with the light.

Sometimes contrast isn’t necessary; harmony can be just as striking.

We had a wonderful visit from the Leeston Garden Club today! 🌸 Laurie managed to talk everyone into staying for a cuppa ...
31/10/2025

We had a wonderful visit from the Leeston Garden Club today! 🌸

Laurie managed to talk everyone into staying for a cuppa and biscuits, and soon there were plant names being jotted down, ideas shared, and plenty of garden chat.

It’s always such a boost to spend time with fellow garden lovers — we’re feeling inspired and encouraged to keep going with the big project that is Oasis Cottage!

You’ll notice behind us that the greenhouse took a bit of a beating in the recent winds — temporarily boarded up for now, but she’ll be back to her best soon. 💚

Address

1093 Woodstock Road
Oxford
7495

Telephone

+64210709729

Website

http://www.oasiscottage.com/

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