Just when you think you've seen it all….you discover the magical  Giant's House, perched high on a hill in Akaroa, so-named by a small child who declared that the imposing home must belong to a giant since it was so big. Yet the size of the home is modest compared to the imagination of its artist creator Josie Martin. Our fun-loving tour group was able to meet Josie and visit her home and garden during our recent tour to New Zealand. Initially recognized as a painter specializing in abstract art, Josie turned to sculpture in 1993. This medium provided opportunities to infuse her colorful ideas into whimsical mosaic creations that delight and excite in equal measure. Just when you think you've seen everything, you round another corner to be surprised yet again. Yet this garden was so much more than just an art installation. Each vignette was carefully detailed and perfectly integrated with the colors of the surrounding flowers and foliage.   Many of the pieces invited interaction – and my tour guests could be heard laughing with child-like glee as they posed for photographs with the larger-than-life sculptures.   What did we learn? Not to take ourselves or our gardens too seriously! Enjoy life, embrace color and live in the moment. I carefully select each garden on every tour, balancing styles, sizes, concepts and even the owners personalities at times! My aim is to stretch our imagination, broaden our understanding and be open to new discoveries  and while I know this garden wasn't everyone's favorite, it was certainly one we would all remember.

Join me!

I have lots of exciting tours lined up for the future  – come and join the adventure.