A conversation and garden tour with landscape architect Louise Dunning Morrow (BLA Hons) on designing gardens that inspire — from Marlborough to the world.
Louise Dunning Morrow’s passion for garden design extends far beyond her Marlborough base, shaping landscapes across New Zealand and around the world. From tiny courtyards to expansive resorts, her work reflects a deep appreciation for how outdoor spaces can enrich daily life.
With a career spanning over two decades, Louise has designed gardens in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Portugal, Dubai, Cyprus and the UK, now working to create beautiful, functional spaces for New Zealanders to enjoy. Her current work includes residential gardens in Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Marlborough, along with a range of commercial developments in Marlborough. Alongside her design practice, Noble Fox, Louise also runs an online store selling garden accessories from Swedish brand, Garden Glory.
In our conversation, Louise takes us on a tour of her own garden in the Waihopai Valley, sharing her design philosophy, the lessons she’s learned from working with plants, and the inspirations that continue to shape her work.
Louise, what propelled you into a life of gardens and landscape architecture?
I used to think I stumbled upon landscape architecture by chance. I had been studying at Canterbury University and didn’t want to return to my home city of Wellington, so I needed to find a course I couldn’t do at home — one that my parents would agree to! That’s when I discovered the landscape architecture degree at Lincoln University, which at the time wasn’t available in Wellington.
But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised it may not have been quite so random. I was brought up with a very large historic garden in Karori, Wellington, which may have been a contributing factor. I experienced firsthand the joy a garden can bring to a family and also to a wider community.
As a child, I had my own small allotment within the garden — but rather than growing vegetables, as might be expected, I grew flowers as a type of memorial. I had been given the responsibility of looking after the family dog cemetery, which I then, of course, redesigned.
What is it that you love about gardening?
Well, I don’t really consider myself much of a “gardener” as such! I feel like I still have a lot to learn on that front, as I feel ‘real’ gardeners are really artists. I have definitely observed the amazing obsession that gardening can become and the huge benefits it brings to people’s lives.
I do like to create things of beauty, and most of the time, for me, that means gardens in my professional capacity as a Landscape Architect. I really enjoy seeing people utilising their properties with a well-designed garden space and all the enjoyment that can come from that, for all generations.
Can you tell us about your own garden?
My current garden is in the Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, about 25 minutes southwest of Blenheim. We have an 8-hectare property, with roughly 5 hectares planted in Sauvignon Blanc grapes, about 1 hectare of gardens and lawn, an olive grove, and additional plantings around the boundaries.
It’s very much a family garden, with my husband Nick and me sharing the workload. Despite my occupation, I am not always the head decision-maker in the garden. Although, Nick still gets a bit of a surprise when some of my ideas become reality and actually look quite good! We also have three sons between us — Hunter (14), Ollie (13) and Walter (5) — who make great use of the lawn for cricket and rugby. More recently, they have even started installing their own golf course around the perimeter. We also share the property with three dogs, one pet sheep and various other pets.
The climate and stony soil are the biggest influences on the garden. The extremes of heat and cold, the wind, the riverbed and the limited water supply all dictate which plants I use, and in turn, the overall style of the garden. Because of these conditions, my plant palette is fairly limited, but I’m always experimenting with different plants to see what I can successfully grow.
At the moment, the garden is divided into several areas. The:
- Sunken garden
- Orchard
- Courtyard
- Vegetable garden
- Driveway – lined with large gum trees
This year, I have plans to add a glasshouse and a picking garden, and we are slowly working on native plantings around the property. We have already replanted almost all of the lower-level plantings and reconfigured the garden areas, adding new paths and lawns.
Our property is called ‘Tussock’, a name we believe was given by former owners who had extensive native plantings. We are very fortunate that they planted so many beautiful trees that we still enjoy today, including oaks, alders, olives, a large bay hedge, and many eucalypts.
Is there a particular aspect of gardens that keeps you passionate and motivated in what you do?
I just love creating beautiful areas that people enjoy being in. I also appreciate that gardens evolve over time, generally alongside their owners. There isn’t an end or a ‘perfect.’ If I am doing my job right, the garden will reflect the owners.
What lessons have you learned along the journey of creating and working in gardens?
That there is no perfect! And also that plants have a mind of their own — you can never be 100% certain how some plants will adapt to their new home. For me, observing what grows well in an area is the best way to select species. Other sources of information are really only generalisations. And sometimes, as in my own garden, it’s really just trial and error.
What are your favourite plants to grow, and why?
I tend to have a different favourite every week in my line of work, but generally, I prefer anything with interesting foliage and low maintenance. I don’t love having to spray anything, so plants that are prone to disease aren’t for me. I also enjoy working with different combinations of plants rather than focusing on individual species.
My current favourites include Heuchera, Hostas, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, Euphorbias and Hydrangeas (as mine are in bloom as we speak).
My all-time favourite would have to be Peony. I also appreciate plants that can fill tricky spots, such as Acanthus mollis, Arthropodium ‘Matapouri Bay’, and even Agapanthus in the right location.
There are very few plants I don’t like — in the right spot, everything has its place.
What would you say to encourage someone who is starting on a gardening journey?
There is no wrong — you learn from trying.
All the hard work does pay off when you take the time to look back at how far you’ve come and what you’ve created.
Oh, and once you realise you’ve moved the same plant about three times, then you really are a gardener! (Nick’s pet hate is me doing this — changing my mind while he has to dig all the holes.)
