Terry Urban at Willowbrook...

The highly skilled NZ jade carver and photographer, Terry Urban, paid us a visit at Willowbrook the other week and took some photos of the gardens looking in quite a disarray...

The main project this Winter is to get the gardens in order for showing them off in Spring. They have been very neglected over the past year with study etc; but are now under going a spruce-up. We spent today trimming all the hedges - Peter driving the Range Rover along the hedge rows and I sticking out of the sun roof trimming the top 3 feet off the hedge with our new petrol hedgetrimmer. I'm sure it must have seemed a site to the neighbours.  

Above: Abandoned seats in the Potager 

Below: More of Terry Urban's Photography

Terry Urban's - Flickr Page

Now with the hedges trimmed we shall move onto weeding and mulching, as well as planting another 300 Hornbeam, planting 200 Alders and 100 Silver Birches, guying up the Olives, and shifting a fejoa hedge.

The Jade Studio...

The Jade Studio (www.thejadestudionz.com) is a bijoux atelier in Nelson, New Zealand, where 2 local artists, Terry and Ruth Urban, have developed quite a following.

Above: Terry Urban, Below: Ruth Urban.

Working only with authentic New Zealand Jade and Tangiwai (the two stones considered as Pounamu (sacred greenstone to indigenous Maori iwi (tribes)), this couple produce some of the finest carving work in the country. Not only do they have many traditional designs on hand, but have created some of their own designs with special cultural or spiritual significance. Each piece is handcrafted from a raw block of stone, such as the one below:

and ends up looking like these finished products!

They are now taking special orders and can work with clients on pieces large and small to create a design unique for individuals and companies. They will ship overseas on request.