
Under the Maki Trees
Gardening for harmony, resilience, and beauty in all seasons — inspired by Japan & New Zealand.
Why Maki Trees?
Our shop is nestled in a corner of our property surrounded by a New Zealand-inspired garden.
The bones of the garden are remnants of the niwa from the old farm house which stood here before - a few beautiful traditional Japanese plants are dotted here and there.
These include two large Maki trees that were planted originally probably around 60 years ago and a few that have self-planted. The maki is Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Maki' or Japanese yew. It is a relative of the stately Podocarpus totara, commonly known as the tōtara, a species of podocarp tree native to New Zealand.
The garden is a huge part of our lives, connecting us back to home, creating a meaningful experience around our shop and indeed for our family.
We'd love to welcome you to visit the garden (or help out!). And if you're interested in gardening with a New Zealand twist here in Japan then read the following posts.
Under the Maki Trees

The Art of Designing with the Garden in Mind
Recently, while taking a quiet moment under the maki trees in front of my shop, I watched a short film on The Local Project YouTube channel featuring a newly built...
The Art of Designing with the Garden in Mind
Recently, while taking a quiet moment under the maki trees in front of my shop, I watched a short film on The Local Project YouTube channel featuring a newly built...

Our NZ-Inspired Garden in Japan
When we first imagined the garden that would surround our winter wool shop, we knew we wanted something more than just decoration. We wanted a living space that would reflect...
Our NZ-Inspired Garden in Japan
When we first imagined the garden that would surround our winter wool shop, we knew we wanted something more than just decoration. We wanted a living space that would reflect...

Planting through grief
On September 15th, 2023, my dad passed away from cancer. I had been home in New Zealand for nearly three months, helping to care for him — one of the...
Planting through grief
On September 15th, 2023, my dad passed away from cancer. I had been home in New Zealand for nearly three months, helping to care for him — one of the...