It's hard to believe, as you walk around the Kelmarna Gardens, that the busy thoroughfares of Jervois and Richmond Roads are metres away.

Mud, dirt, soil - call it what you like, but respect it. It's full of life.

Despite money not growing on trees, gardening seems to be the most popular way for NZ's white collar criminals to while away the hours behind bars.

It's all flash and colour as plants entice bees to spread the love.

Nature's diligent little helpers now need us to secure their survival.

The weather's getting warmer so it's time to plant your veges.

If you met nurse Lisbeth Alley or former landscaper Robyn Laurenson on the street, the word guerrilla would probably not be the first description you would reach for, writes Catherine Smith.

Trees are featuring more often in the media these days, sadly because they are under threat from developers in the private or public realm.

Professional planters do it the easy-on-the-spine, no-blisters way.

Far from being boring, winter vegetables jazz up our meals.

If your pruning is behind take a brave approach with secateurs.

Clever planting and decorative touches hint at maturity, writes Carol Bucknell.

When we talk about the French urban garden it conjures images of a courtyard with cafe-style iron table and chairs to sit at for a coffee in the sun.

We kiwis love a good deck. They suit the design of most of our houses, are perfect for the casual barbecues we love so much.

Hope, recovery and restoration are what Matariki and the Maori new year are all about and this Auckland project has it in spades.

Good outdoor furniture can move your living spaces outside, writes Carol Bucknell.

After days of anticipation the Auckland Domain Winter Garden's 'corpse flower' is expected to come in to full bloom today.

A plant that smells like rotting flesh will flower for the seconds time in 18 months at the Auckland Domain's Wintergarden.

While our gardens take a breather over winter and we retreat from life in the gardening fast lane, this is a perfect moment to take stock of your site and get planning.

Earth and all its occupants need trees, so let's get digging.

Plants snooze about now — the time to prune and transplant them.

The gold-standard autumn destinations in New Zealand are in the South Island. Our leafy colonial settlements are up there on the world stage for autumn beauty.

The colour red gets attention. It is the primal colour of fire, evoking passion, vitality and celebration in many cultures.

All mums deserve pampering, and Mother's Day is the official day when that special treatment is obligatory.

The Flanders poppy is the real plant behind the red flower which has become an international symbol of remembrance for soldiers who gave their lives during the world wars.

Autumn might be wind-down time for many plants but the slightly cooler temperatures and increased moisture in the ground make it the ideal time to sow new lawns and rejuvenate existing turf.

Dita De Boni wonders how long it will be before chemicals giant Monsanto moves to openly sue nations that try and limit or ban the use of Roundup weedkiller.