Formosa Botanic News Today

Former art teacher Phil Macgregor is enjoying the “vibe” of Oamaru, after moving here to retire. Macgregor finished teaching in Balclutha and Milton about three years ago, and this year has taken over the space upstairs from the Harbour St Collective Cafe, once occupied by fellow artist, and brother, Kit. Macgregor was drawn to Oamaru in part because his brother was here, but also because “it’s an attractive place to come to”. “It’s a bit drier than Clutha was, and there’s a goo...

When Portuguese explorers first spotted Taiwan in 1542, they named it Isla Formosa, or Beautiful Island. Taiwan national Vivian Lee has introduced her own beautiful island upstairs from the Harbour Street Collective Cafe, in the shape of Formosa Botanic. The obsession with pot plants was a recent one. Miss Lee and her partner were building a new home, which they hoped would be ready by the end of the year. “I thought, I will start growing some plants, so that when we first move in, the house ...