6-Week Course

Flora and Fauna Single Session (The Sage Journal: Emma Sage's journey)

Birdwoods Gallery

Hawkes Bay

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25 Jun 2026, 10:00am–12:00pm

Thursday, 10:00am to 12:00pm

$85 per person

This session explores the evolution of The Sage Journal and features a live case study of the Melbourne Flower Show, illustrating why high-quality photography is essential for capturing such a visually stunning event.

The Evolution of Sage Journal

Five years ago, Emma stepped out from behind the scenes to launch Sage Journal. Her mission was simple: create a space for gardeners who are sometimes failing, often succeeding, and always asking questions.

What started as a digital passion project has blossomed into Aotearoa’s most trusted gardening resource. Today, Sage Journal has grown far beyond a local blog—it is a thriving hub for:

Knowledge Seekers: Practical advice for the modern grower.

Design Lovers: Aspirational projects that blend nature with aesthetics.

Nature-Inspired Creatives: A community that finds beauty in the soil.

Preserving the Conversation

In Spring 2025, Emma took Sage Journal to its most tactile form yet: Print.

The print edition serves as a permanent home for the kind of knowledge usually passed down over garden fences and kitchen tables. It’s about preserving the wisdom of the past while cultivating the community of the future.

Join us for this insightful, relaxed, creative session.

Date: Thursday 25th June

Time & Format: The course will start at 10am, with a coffee and tea break followed by a lively facilitated discussion to answer all your curious questions. The course will finish at 12pm each week.

Location: We are delighted to be hosting at Birdwoods Gallery, 298 Middle Road, Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay

About the expert

Emma Sage

Hey, I’m Emma.

The camera-shy editor and founder behind Sage Journal.

I come from a line of gardeners, always able to call my mum or nana to chat about what to plant where, figure out why a plant is turning up its toes, or to see if there’s a cutting going spare. I know not everyone is this lucky.

When we bought our first house 12+ years ago, I quickly realised what a struggle it was to find local garden inspiration and advice. I wanted relatable stories, aspirational projects, and connections with knowledgeable gardeners — both new and old.

So five years ago, I started Sage Journal. To share stories of hands-in-the-dirt, soil-on-the-clothes gardeners. People who are sometimes failing, often succeeding, and always asking questions.

My aim was to create Aotearoa’s most trusted gardening resource. Now, with a large local following, and growing engagement from Australia and beyond, we’ve not only become the home for gardeners, but for design lovers and nature-inspired creatives too. www.sagejournal.com