Hi, I’m Cate – the hands, gumboots and slightly (very) grubby fingernails behind Pembroke Blooms.

I’m a born-and-bred Wānaka local, and my flower story really started in my grandparents’ immaculate garden on Faulks Terrace in Wanaka. They had this magic mix of rhododendrons, winding paths and little hidden corners – to kid-me it was all just pretty colours, but it clearly planted a seed.

I was not a natural gardener. I could barely keep a houseplant alive and I’ll happily admit it. The real turning point came when I met my now-husband, who kept showing up with beautiful bouquets on special occasions, and sometimes for no reason at all. I fell completely in love with having colour on my work desk and around our home – it just made everything feel brighter.

In 2021 I bought a few dahlia tubers for the garden at our rental. One season later I’d completely outgrown that space and, with the help of my very supportive late dad, we transformed an old unused horse round pen into my flower haven. Now there are over 200 dahlias out there, plus a growing cast of other seasonal blooms.

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing – I’ve had three solid seasons of trial, error, bad ideas, great surprises and a lot of “well, I buggered that up”. But honestly, that’s how I like it. Failure is your biggest teacher.

Like any gardener, I’m terrible at saying no to “just a bit more space”, so in spring 2025 my type b self decided we should develop a paddock to triple my current garden size, and to grow an even wider range of flowers for Central Otago. If I thought I was time-short before…crikey, I’m in for it. However I’m not one to shy away from a bit of hard yakka.

I say ‘we’ in the heading because I would be remiss in claiming that it’s all my hard work that grows these flowers. I am incredibly lucky to have such a supportive family. My Husband Jamie who chips in and donates (many) labour hours to setting irrigation up, turning beds over, rotary hoeing, planting - the list goes on. Alongside him is my wonderful Mum Fe, who helps with watering, planting, cutting, and is a sucker for a Mitre 10 or Nicholls plant deal and is known to come home with a new addition or two to add. Top top it off my in-laws Debbie and Mike have been such a huge help in setting up the flower beds, planting out, ideas for how to work things and so on.

I absolutely welcome fellow gardeners and flower lovers to visit. I’m not an expert and don’t plan on pretending to be one! If something survives in my garden, it’s doing rather well as theres a whole lotta wingin’ it.

Pembroke Blooms is simply my way of sharing the fun in growing flowers with you. 🌸🌿

Cate