Posted on 28 April 2026
Our LearnersNZ Certificate in Floristry (Level 3) ākonga (learner) Steph Evans, owner of award-winning Oasis Cottage in Oxford, near Christchurch, was recently featured in the NZ House & Garden magazine.
“It’s been quite surreal,” Steph says.
“The garden has developed gradually over many years, so to see it captured so beautifully and shared with a wider audience felt both rewarding and a little humbling. It’s a lovely milestone for us.”
Oasis Cottage is an ongoing labour of love for Steph and her husband Laurie.
What began as a near-derelict farmhouse has evolved into a highly structured, flower-filled garden with distinct “rooms” and a strong seasonal focus, utilising her studies with Open Polytechnic.
“My floristry studies have been incredibly valuable, particularly in how I approach growing flowers for cutting,” Steph says.
“I now think much more intentionally about colour palettes, form, and succession planting, which has lifted both the garden and the bouquets I create.”
“I’ve also found that the design principles—balance, proportion, and colour harmony—have directly influenced how I plant and structure areas of the garden,” she says.
Steph enjoyed study topics like plant identification, conditioning techniques, and understanding how different flowers behave once cut, which have been especially useful with her business.
She has found Open Polytechnic “very supportive” with her studies.
“The course material is practical and well-structured, and it fits in well with a hands-on lifestyle,” Steph says.
“Being able to study from home while directly applying what I’m learning in the garden and studio has been a real advantage.”
Oasis Cottage is currently recognised as a three-star “Notable Garden” by the New Zealand Gardens Trust, with the aim of advancing to a four-star rating over time.
“Studying floristry has deepened my appreciation for the connection between growing and design,” Steph says.
“It’s not just about producing flowers—it’s about understanding how to use them beautifully.”
“That link between garden and arrangement is something I’m continuing to explore at Oasis Cottage, particularly with plans to run workshops in our Floral Atelier space."
Find out more about Open Polytechnic’s floristry programmes.
Photo captions: 1) Steph working on an amazing floral arrangement, 2) Steph and Laurie relaxing in the Oasis Cottage gardens, 3) Steph out picking some flowers from the garden.