An Artistic Life Inspired by Gardens

Marj Simonsen
Marj Simonsen

AT 86-years-old Marj Simonsen has no plans to slow down.

Behind the front door of her picture-perfect cottage, Maison des Fleurs, is a light-filled home alive with her vibrant artworks, felting and plants.

“My artwork is all related to flowers and natural things from the garden,” she said.

Canungra Law

Originally from New Zealand, Marj, and her late husband John, travelled extensively around the world, from Russia to Norway and the United States; often on garden tours.

In her late 20s she did a degree in horticulture in New Zealand and later worked for TAFE Queensland as one of their original horticultural teachers.

They moved to the mountain in 1996 and Marj started working for Heather’s Garden Centre and Birchgrove Nursery.

Tamborine Mountain provided a cool climate which allowed Marj to grow the plants she loved from New Zealand.

“It’s just a beautiful place to live, where else would you want to live other than Tamborine Mountain?” she said emphatically.

Living here has allowed her to pursue her passion for art as well as gardening.

“We have one of the best artistic communities. We have poets, writers, artists, sculptors and actors,” Marj said.

About ten years ago she was involved in the formation of the Wearable Art Group.

“The women create handmade wearable creations, wall hangings and beautiful garments, wraps and bags,” she said.

The women meet each week to do nuno felting, crocheting and knitting.

“We have a lot of fun working together and teaching each other skills and promoting crafts; keeping alive handmade crafts which are being lost in this modern age,” Marj explained.

Each year she attends the University of Southern Queensland at Toowoomba for their summer and winter schools, honing her skills in mixed media, water colour, pen and ink.

“I love drawing; it’s one of my favourite things to just sit and draw. Trouble is half the time I don’t have time to do it,” she laughed.

She also belongs to the Calanthe Poetry Group on the mountain, which does poetry bombing often seen attached to tables and poles along Main Street.

For years she has contributed her horticultural knowledge as a volunteer at the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens and as a member of the Garden Club.

And while Tamborine Mountain is etched firmly in her heart, her feet are always itchy.

“I’d get on a plane tomorrow,” she admits.

She’s just returned from a garden tour of South Auckland and earlier in the year a textile tour of Morrocco and Poland where she worked with men and women doing traditional weaving, sewing and embroidery.

“I’m 86 and I don’t want to stop. I couldn’t imagine not doing a project or travelling or volunteering,” Marj said.

“I’ve seen some very beautiful gardens and countries and galleries around the world. I’ve had a wonderful time.”