Leafy Hollow Botanicals

Leafy Hollow Botanicals Newsletter: September 2026

Blue Sky Days, Garden Recovery, and Upcoming Creative Workshops

NEWSLETTERS

9/5/20265 min read

Hints of Spring at Leafy Hollow

In this issue you’ll find details of upcoming workshops, including our Beautiful Balms workshop next Saturday, a fabulous Breathe Easy Balm to help gently support recovery from late winter ills and chills, and I’m also sharing some gardening tips to get you ready for spring. I hope you enjoy this update.

Greetings from Leafy Hollow,

- Pauline Livesey, Owner

While the garden shakes off the cold, we’re preparing for a gentle season of botanical product-making and creative renewal.

Winter is drawing to a close. Gardens are in shock (particularly here in the north) after the longest, coldest winter for a very long time. Tender, tropical plants, that normally survive unscathed, have recoiled in horror as temperatures repeatedly dropped to below freezing. Gardeners are taking a long, hard look at the many beautiful plants that now droop; brown and shrivelled.

Looking on the positive side, we have been blessed with so many beautiful, blue-sky days. Splashes of colour manage to brighten up corners of the garden – bold camellia, delicate hellebores, vibrant calendula, glossy green avocados. For a few weeks the grass stopped growing.

L-R: Camellia, Hellebore, Calendula

IN THE GARDEN ROOM

Botanical Workshops

The Gentle Practicalities

We offer a range of botanical workshops at Leafy Hollow. These workshops are hands-on and interactive, so numbers are limited. Take a look at what's coming up below and make sure to mark your calendars and get in touch to book your spot.

Workshops typically run for two hours. The cost for 2026 is $65 per person, which includes all materials and morning/afternoon tea. Participants take home their botanical creations.

Bookings Essential

You can book via the workshops form on the website - please advise the name and date of the workshop you are booking. Or, you can contact Pauline directly, via email, or mobile: 021 264 8654.

Leafy Hollow Botanicals' beautiful balms

Next Workshop: Creating Beautiful Balms

Saturday, 12 September 2026 | 10:00AM - 12:30PM | $65.00 pp

Creams, Lotions & Body Butter

Saturday, 03 October 2026 | 10:00AM – 12:30PM

Learn to make rich, natural and organic skincare products to pamper your face and body, including body butter, hand cream, and a light facial lotion.

Foraging & Distillation

Saturday, 07 November 2026 | 10:00AM – 12:30PM

Forage and harvest fragrant foliage and flowers. Learn the art of distillation. Create your own refreshing and uplifting room spray.

Find out more about these workshops, and register, below.

Learn More

Private Workshops & Garden Tours

Looking for a unique experience for your group? We offer private botanical workshops and guided garden tours by appointment.

Enquire Now

Upcoming Workshops Schedule

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll turn your hand to making four balms: Sleep Balm, Lip Balm, Healing Balm, and Breathe Easy Balm. You’ll blend essential oils, infuse garden herbs, and turn out gorgeous products to add to your first aid/wellbeing cabinet. All materials and morning tea included.

Sudsy Fun: Soapmaking Workshop

Some highlights from our Soapmaking Workshop in August. Look at those gorgeous soaps!

Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise

Saturday, 28 November 2026 | 10:00AM – 12:30PM

Create your own shower gel, micellar water, and serum.

What Our Customers Say

HUAOTA CREAMY BODY CLEANSER

"I have the face cream and hand and body cream They are both absolutely lovely.
Highly recommend Leafy Hollow Botanicals."

- HELEN, HILLTOP HAVEN.

FACE CREAM AND HAND & BODY CREAM

"Pauline of Leafy Hollow Botanicals produces this beautiful body cleanser.

It is an aromatherapy spa like experience in the shower! Such a glorious blend of lemongrass and lavender, a burst of delicious and invigorating scent, with the addition of being a beautiful skin moisturiser.

Pauline formulates a variety of products and her essential oils are stunning, we use these at Hilltop Haven during Zu Qigong and Reiki sessions.So wonderful to have such beautiful natural products locally."

- NICKY, SOUL GOAL RELEASE.

REVIEWS

Leafy Hollow Botanicals Creamy Body Cleanser

Leafy Hollow Botanicals Breathe Easy Balm

Product Spotlight

Breathe Easy Balm | 15g | $12.00

There is so much sickness around at present – coughs, colds, influenza. These are usually accompanied by a blocked nose and sinus problems. Sleep becomes difficult and broken nights only lead to weary days.

Try our Breathe Easy Balm. Specially formulated to clear those airways, bringing temporary relief and more restful sleep.

Ingredients:

Organic beeswax and olive oil, Essential oils of Camphor, Menthol, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lavender.

Buy Now

Leafy Hollow Botanicals products are hand-crafted here on site, using all natural and, whenever possible, organic ingredients. Every product is formulated to include something from our garden, offering an authentic Leafy Hollow experience for discerning customers.

How to use:

Adults: apply a small amount under the nose, or on the upper chest.

Children: rub on the upper chest and neck area.

Babies and toddlers: put a small amount on a tissue. Tuck the tissue just inside the pillowcase.

IN THE GARDEN

Looking Good Right Now

Come for a Ramble

Did you know that the Leafy Hollow gardens are often open to the public on the weekends? Unless there is a workshop or event on (in which case, the gardens are closed), you are welcome to come for a ramble. Please just make sure to check our website or Facebook page for open times before you drive out, to avoid disappointment.

L-R: Avocadoes, Industrious Caterpillar, Hellebore

L-R: Protea, Camellia, Tui in a Cherry Tree

Tasks Around the Garden

As we reach the end of the winter season there are some important tasks that may need your attention.

#1 Tree pruning

If possible, arrange for any major tree surgery before the leaves reappear. Less mess and fewer weighty branches to cope with.

Preemptive tree pruning at Leafy Hollow, August 2026

#2 Frost damage

Cut back any frost-damaged foliage from tender plants. Keep fingers crossed that they bounce back in spring!

#3 Weed busters

Get rid of pesky perennial weeds, like Woolly Nightshade (Solanum mauritianum) before the seeds drop. These invasive plants sneak up on you and before you notice they are head height!