In her nature

After successful stints as both a florist and a landscape designer, Fiona Spencer’s green fingers are being put to work once more

Carol Bucknell

Green thumbs often run in families so it’s no surprise to discover that Fiona Spencer’s passion for plants and design was inspired by her grandmother’s garden.

Te Puke-born and raised, Fiona’s favourite childhood hobby was experimenting with different plant combinations.

“In the weekends, I would spend my time weeding and then nag Mum to take me plant shopping to fill the garden with annuals and perennials to finish off my landscape design. My room was full of indoor plants, too,” she says.

Naturally, plants became her career, first as a florist then as a landscape designer. Now a mother of two young boys, three-year-old Cooper and one-year-old Riley, Fiona has once again returned to her horticultural roots. This time she’s selling a wonderful variety of indoor plants and bespoke geometrically patterned pots through her home-based business, Black House Creative.

Design inspiration

“I have always had a thing for pots, plants and patterns and had been toying with the idea over the last few years,” she explains. “Then one night I had a light-bulb moment about designing patterns on white pots. It just felt right, and the right path to head down for me and my family.

“After I had my second son, Riley, I bought some white pots, designed some patterns and hand-painted them. I had such a good response from friends and family that I started selling the pots at markets and on Trade Me.”

Fiona initially focused on local markets in Kumeu and Coatesville, northwest of Auckland but, encouraged by all the positive comments, she has recently decided to try her luck online. “I thought it would be quiet over winter so I decided to work on creating an online store. Instead, it was really busy!”