Hydrangea Murrine Vase

Murrine Glass Rollup, Transplant 2025

165x100x100 mm

Heather Kremen explores the link between plants and people - the stories of belonging, migration, and memory that bloom in every garden.
New Zealand’s native flora is striking and unique, often appearing unfamiliar to those newly arrived on its shores. For generations, immigrants have brought plants with them longing for the comfort of what once was home. These plants, some grown for food or income, others simply for beauty, speak to the deep human need to root ourselves in new soil while holding onto our past.

First time I saw a hydrangea bush was living in Dunedin, we had a bluey whitey one in my yard. My mum loved it. While I didn’t appreciate it at the time, I have grown fond of the flowers and their cheerful pompom nature. I appreciate their ability to change colour depending on the ph of the soil. They were originally brought here from Japan where they are common as an ornamental shrub. They remind me of my time living there. Sadly, they were classified last year by DOC as a weed.