GARDENING WORKSHOPS IN MARLBOROUGH
Taught in the garden where every technique was first tried — & where the experimenting never really stopped
Gardening in the Vertical Plane
Creating Living Ecosystems in Trees — with Ross Palmer
Look up in Welton's garden and you'll find ferns, astelias, native and exotic orchids, and other epiphytes growing two storeys overhead — not as a novelty, but as a fully established ecosystem in the canopy of mature and semi-mature trees. Ross Palmer has spent decades turning Welton's trees into a canvas, and the results are some of the most distinctive vertical planting in New Zealand.
This masterclass takes you into that garden to explore how it was made & how you can replicate it.
Drawing on years of experimentation — including the failures that taught him more than the successes — Ross shares the practical techniques, plant choices, and microclimatic understanding needed to establish and maintain ferns, orchids, and epiphytes in living trees in Aotearoa's temperate climate.
Wander beneath canopies alive with plants that most people have never seen grown this way. Leave knowing how to begin your own.
Small group. Unhurried. In the place where it all happens. Dates are released to the waitlist first.
The Sustainable Productive Garden
Growing Abundantly, Treading Lightly — with Wendy Palmer
Welton's kitchen garden has been feeding people for decades — and doing it in a way that improves the soil rather than depleting it. This masterclass draws on everything the Welton team has learned about growing fruit and vegetables abundantly while supporting biodiversity, building soil health, and working with the natural rhythms of the land rather than against them.
From composting & companion planting to natural pest management, beneficial insects, & seasonal growing rhythms, you'll leave with practical techniques that work in New Zealand conditions — not just in theory
Wendy teaches from the Welton garden itself, where everything covered is already growing.
Because a garden that feeds the soil feeds everything else that follows.
Small group. Unhurried. In the place where it all happens. Dates are released to the waitlist first.
FAQs
How many people attend each workshop?
Numbers are kept deliberately small to ensure the experience stays personal and unhurried. Exact capacity depends on the workshop and will be confirmed when dates are released.
Will catering be included?
Yes — seasonal, homemade morning or afternoon tea is included, made largely from what the Welton garden and kitchen are producing that week.
What should I bring?
Comfortable clothes you don't mind getting soil on, sturdy shoes, and curiosity. Everything else is provided.
Are the workshops suitable for beginners?
Gardening in the Vertical Plane is best suited to those with some gardening experience and a genuine interest in horticulture. The Sustainable Productive Garden is accessible to a wider range of experience levels — from keen beginners to established home growers.
Can I request a private or group workshop?
Yes — private workshops for small groups can be arranged by enquiry. Get in touch to discuss your group's interests and we'll see what's possible.
The best gardening knowledge comes from someone who learned it the hard way
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