Susie Ripley

After her 2022 workshops sold out soon after going on sale, we’re thrilled to be welcoming the fabulous Susie Ripley back to Rapaura Springs Garden Marlborough for two new workshops.

Susie had been a passionate dahlia grower for several years, and also wanted to grow annual cutting flowers, but when she was unable to find the same flower varieties in New Zealand that she’d been swooning over on Instagram, she set about importing seeds herself. She then launched the seed range for sale on her website Susie Ripley Gardening, where she also sells a range of plant supports she’s designed.

In Seed-raising for the home gardener Susie shares her love of growing from seed, showing what a wonderful way it is to introduce hard-to-find varieties to your garden, but also how much fun it can be. However, seed-raising can also be daunting and, if you miss some key steps, even disappointing. Susie explains how to avoid the pitfalls, and without the luxury of a glasshouse or a large dedicated space. Join her for a deep dive into seed biology, learn how to easily replicate her home set-up, and leave full of confidence!

Dahlias are what started Susie’s passion for gardening, and she’s still surprised constantly by their beauty and kaleidoscopic colours. While dahlias are simple and rewarding to grow, there are important things to know to get the best from them. In Dahlias – beyond the craze Susie will share her successes and her failures, and the huge amount she has learned as an importer, so you too can grow and propagate dahlias with confidence and skill.