Art, miniatures and food forests bring the series to a colourful close. Virginia Winder and Nelson Smart visit the Goodin Country Garden for the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, where volcanic rocks, mature trees and lush lawns set the scene for works by Karl Maughan, Jeff Thomson and Erica Soman – with all three artists in residence on opening weekend. Sophie Walker explores Creekside Cottage in Stratford for the Taranaki Sustainable Backyards Trail, where Gwenda Pease’s food forest brims with chickens, berries and pollinator plants. In central New Plymouth, Virginia and Nelson also meet Maureen Holmes-Woods, whose quirky dollhouses and studio – a craft heaven – will delight visitors during the Taranaki Arts Trail.

Cars, collectables and creativity wrap up this series. Virginia Winder explores Kahikatea for the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, where Katy and Willie Roach’s peaceful garden is surrounded by QEII-covenanted bush, colourful plantings and Willie’s collection of American cars. Sophie Walker heads to Stratford’s Fenton Street Art Collective for the Taranaki Sustainable Build Trail, where Jo Stallard and Stuart Greenhill share how they transformed Egmont Chambers into a café, distillery and creative hub using reclaimed materials. Virginia also meets Alana Ruakere, whose expressive abstract paintings in bold primary colours will be on show for the Taranaki Arts Trail.

Palms, quail and creativity fill this episode. Virginia Winder explores Nikau Grove for the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, where Ian and Elsie Lind’s Garden of International Significance is alive with native bush, boardwalks, wētā hotels and a waterfall. Sophie Walker visits Blue Cypress Haven in Waitara for the Taranaki Sustainable Backyards Trail, where Peter and Cathy Gehr have turned a tiny 300m² section into a thriving food garden with quail, bees and solar power. And Nelson Smart joins Virginia to meet New Plymouth artist Korrena Kidd, who will have a diverse range of creative works – from painting and sculpture to photography – on show for the Taranaki Arts Trail.

Virginia chats to artist, painter, printmaker, musician and gardener Stu Morris ahead of the Taranaki Arts Festival from his cottage in Brooklands surrounded by his art that is due to open for the festival this year. Sophie has a kōrero with Jamie Silk, host of the Taranaki Sustainable Farms Trail who has experimented with livestock diets, riparian and hillside planting, renewable energy and hands on learning. We end today's episode with Chris and Gloria Smith from L’Amour Garden who have entered their delightful Inglewood Garden in this year’s Centuria Garden Festival for the first time this year.

Today we hear all about Centuria Taranaki Garden Festivals Tikoki Garden in New Plymouth owned by Janet and John King, where visitors can meander down the path to a delightful sanctuary garden filled with rhododendrons, roses and a terraced vegetable garden. We also hear about the backyard revolution at Hobart Haven, Hayley and Seton Pennell’s vibrant space that talks the talk of Refuse, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle as they prepare for the Sustainable Backyards Trail. Then Nelson and Virginia chat with stone carver Kevin McDonald whose passion lies with his hammer and chisel ahead of the Taranaki Arts Trail.

Lee & Roland Brumley welcome us into their Carrington Rd garden and chat with Virginia about The Yews that featured in NZ House & Garden magazine; Sophie chats with Kama Burwell, one of the hosts on the Sustainable Farms Tail 2025. Learn about her whānau farm in Kaimata where the care about the whenua and creating a thriving, resilient farm; and Virginia chats with the super talented potter Juliet Larkin who explores form, tension, imbalance, texture, and emotion—often through the vessel form in her work.

Today we hear all about the Cockerill's Garden Te Rongohua in Kinross Drive, that is set amongst the woodlands and blends natural beauty with artistic flair, we hear about Planting, Power & Paddocks with Jamie Silk. From experimenting with livestock diets to riparian and hillside planting, renewable energy, and hands-on learning, Jamie’s lifestyle block on Weld Road is a living lab of sustainability. We end today chatting with photographer Pip Guthrie whose photography embodies a blend of the familiar, sometimes the unremarkable with narratives woven into the fabric of everyday life that are often go unnoticed.

From lush gardens to rural backyards and vibrant art studios, this week’s trail is bursting with stories and inspiration. Virginia Winder drops by Gravetye in Hāwera to meet Jenny and John Pease, whose garden is a tapestry of colour and charm for the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival. Sophie Walker heads out to Korito to chat with Stu from Stu & Wendy’s Lil' Slice sustainable paradise. Their journey is packed with laughter, inspiration, and clever tips, plus some brilliant hacks to keep your own backyard humming. And Nelson Smart joins Virginia to catch up with Stratford painter Jo Stallard of the Fenton St Arts Collective, diving into the creative spark that fuels her work on the Taranaki Arts Trail.

Love gardens, art, and sustainable living? Then join Virginia Winder, Sophie Walker and Nelson Smart as they take you behind the scenes of Taranaki’s iconic festivals. Virginia visits Cairnhill in Toko with June Lees, uncovering the magic of heritage gardens in full bloom for the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival. Sophie steps inside Magpie’s Rest in Huirangi/Waitara, where Jo-anne Mowat shares her journey building a warm, soulful passive solar home from repurposed treasures for The Sustainable Trails. And Nelson and Virginia sit down with artist JD Reid to explore creativity, craft, and connection on the Taranaki Arts Trail.