During the 1950s and 1960s Muriel and Bill Fisher established a fine collection of over 700 native plants in their garden on the North Shore of Auckland Harbour. Concerned for the future of some rare plants, Muriel Fisher wrote Gardening with New Zealand plants, shrubs and trees to encourage New Zealanders to grow native plants in their gardens. Her book marked a turning point in New Zealanders’ attitudes to using natives.

Listen to Muriel Fisher talk about how she came to write this influential book. She refers to Norman Potts, who grew a number of uncommon native plants in the Hukutaia Domain, Ōpōtiki.

Sound file from Auckland Libraries